The sort of band that exists simply because they have to, need to, and want to—Cry For Mercy’s This Machine is, at its core, fairly simple.
“Thing About Me” opens it, and your notes say things like: “Beautifully played, superbly sung, and with a great chorus.” What’s not to like?
The thing is, that applies to the rest of the album too.
The problem, for review purposes, is that a record like This Machine almost makes you resort to cliché—because it’s just that good. You can only call “Show Me” timeless, because it sounds like Bernie Marsden (RIP) era Whitesnake.
More than anything, these are just brilliant rock songs that would stand out in any era. Simple as that. Try resisting “Sleeping With The Enemy”—you won’t.
The slow-building “All My Life” has a Bad Company vibe, and if you look at the bands we’ve namechecked, I’d bet no one in Cry For Mercy would mind the comparisons.
The slower ones, like “Nothing At All,” are exquisitely done, with an epic quality. “Moments” is a breakup song like few others, but it belongs on big stages—and guitarist Andy Cutty excels.
They’ve got swing too—”Saving Grace” would, well, grace a Free album. But even on an album as good as this, it’s “I Don’t Mind” that shines the brightest.
“Sometimes” changes the pace—anyone missing Thunder (which is all of us, I’d think!) should get here immediately.
The superb ballad “You Can’t Help Me” and the late-night blues of “This Time” gently close things out, but the class that runs through the entire album is undeniable.
The North Wales mob have won awards, talent contests, and all sorts—and all of it well deserved—but they perhaps haven’t had the commercial success they merit.
For crying out loud, and for Cry For Mercy, make This Machine the record that ends that.
Rating: 8.5/10
CRY FOR MERCY – THIS MACHINE (2025)
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