BDL - Retribution

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2014
Time:46:46 
Size:107,8 MB 
Label:A1 / NMD 
Styles:Blues/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Retribution - 4:11
 2. Nowhere Else To Go - 3:44
 3. Blues In D-Fat - 5:01
 4. The Hard Way - 4:13
 5. Still Breathing - 3:37
 6. Bitter Man - 3:41
 7. Storm Is Coming - 4:25
 8. Help Me - 3:39
 9. I Don't Care - 2:55
10. Never Going Back - 5:44
11. The Ballad Of John Henry - 5:31

Musicians:
Bass - Jochen Eminger;
Vocals - Dennis Eminger;
Guitar - Dennis Eminger, Martin Hötte;
Keyboard - Georg Mahr;
Drums - Frank Mellies.

A former cover band that primarily focused on Joe Bonamassa presents its debut album with original material, except, of course, for two tracks that connoisseurs will... er, recognize. Sure, "The Hard Way" and "The Ballad Of John Henry" come from the great German idol (where they come from, by the way, is thankfully rarely revealed), but the fresh material from BLUES DELUXE, as the abbreviation deciphers, is also clearly oriented towards the former blues prodigy, which is evident in Dennis Eminger's vocals, but also in the occasionally luscious guitar tone (title track) and the occasionally richly note-rich solos on the six-string. Compositionally, however, there's still room for improvement, again compared to the original, because American mainstream music takes some getting used to, even if it sounds so light-hearted to the accustomed ear. The band has mastered classic slow sounds like "Blues In D-Flat," "Help Me," and "I Don't Care" admirably, while "Never Going Back" sounds rather tired. The cover songs also remain more of a must than a choice, but those who lift heavy run the risk of breaking their bones, but that's not the case with BDL. "Nowhere Else To Go," as well as the organ-driven "Still Breathing," with its tasteful electric piano and Southern feel, are sure to be a must-listen. "Bitter Man," on the other hand, has something of Kenny Wayne Shepherd about it, another mainstreamer whom BDL can't match, which they don't really need to. Either way, it's pleasing that the musician can wear blue here too without appearing too conservative. CONCLUSION: BDL certainly aren't "The New Blues-Rock Sensation," as they call themselves, but "Retribution" is the first commercial blue-collar band to cross the finish line in the upper midfield and sounds absolutely competitive internationally. Add to that some fiery performances in smoky clubs, and the authenticity is perfect. ~ Andreas Schiffmann (Info)

Retribution