Some six years after their debut EP (people moved to Australia and New York and back) now based in Dublin again, Mine Road are back with their full-length welcome.
And “Snowplough” (I can’t help thinking of The Simpson’s “Mr Plough” episode) is a perfect example of what they want to do.
By that I mean it’s choc-full of chunky riffs, understands the point of a chorus you can damn well sing, and more to the point, seems like they are all enjoying themselves.
That appears to be the vibe across the rest of it, in fairness too.
“Tightrope” finds guitarist Stuart Cash (who along with drummer, brother Steve, formed the band getting on for a decade ago) bringing the energy and this is hard rock exactly how it should be.
Ambition is shot through the thing, and the way “Into The Storm” builds into its verse underlines it. Ken Carthy (who returned to the fold after the brothers came back from parts far-flung has the perfect voice for this too.
“American Dream”, perhaps a little more reflective and looking West from Southern Ireland has a lovely, classic feel, but it never feels dated, like anyone here is trying too hard to replicate the past, rather as on “Blood On The Floor”, adding a new stamp to the music they clearly love.
To that end, there’s no “core”, no “genre” blurring nonsense here. This is merely good, honest hard rock. A little like their compatriots No Sweat made decades ago (and I shocked myself looking it up for this that “Heart And Soul” was 34 years ago, but I digress).
“Hold On You” slows things down a little, while “Tomorrow’s Sky” is a bit more epic. There’s even just a touch of latter-period Iron Maiden about its opening, both of these in their own way perhaps tell you that Mine Road are here for the long haul.
“Break more hearts and make more money” sings Carthy at the start of “Reeling” and the rock n roll dream is alive, and what is interesting about “Tomorrow’s Sky” is the hints at the type of band that MR will be. “Start To Believe” is enough to make you believe in them, and that’s even more true on the ending “I’ll Be Home”. Campfire blues with a real warmth and perhaps just a hint of the personal, because after years away, there’s a real feel here that Mine Road are here to stay.
“Tomorrow’s Sky” is a real mighty statement of intent, but more than that, it suggests that the band could be very special indeed in years to come.
Rating 8.5/10
