Sometimes you stumble across something special and you just have to spread the word. ‘Time to Party’ from W.A.L.K.E.R.’s ‘Bringing Back Rock’ EP might date back to June 2017 – but the EP it comes from only finally saw a physical release this year in February.
Ireland it seems now has a band that has managed to capture and channel the thrill of the late eighties Sunset Strip scene with all of the great aspects of the sound and yet with a distinct lack of cheese. The songs here would have been huge in the day , they’re fun, full of hooks and just right to start any 80’s Rock party.
If you lived through the 80’s and loved the music from the latter part of that decade then I can’t imagine that you wont love this band. Opener ‘Time to Party’ name-checks every year from 1986-1989 and has a distinct Motley vibe about it, it’s an anthem that stands up nicely against the best of the music of that decade of decadence thirty-odd years before.
‘Time To Party’ is more of the same, just that a great late-eighties styled party song that has a great ‘Slave-era’ Skid Row vibe (yes I know that as released in ’91). There is variety her too though – ‘Bringing Rock Back’ is smoother and more melodic; whilst the weakest track here ‘Dreaming of You’ is a serviceable mid tempo/ballad and one that would be a standout on most releases.
Without missing a beat ‘She’s on Fire’ gets back to the Sunset Strip party, really underlining the band’s affinity with the era, and closer ‘When It Rains’ throws open the door to possibility – is an interesting way to leave the EP hanging: a song that sounds more mature than the rest of the tracks here, has some wonderful melodies, killer guitar but also more depth that might just hint at a rather fine carer ahead of these guys.
I don’t think there’s much doubt that this will be my EP of the year. Check it out!
