Rock Goddess are back doing what they do best – Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll!
Rock Goddess came into existence in the early eighties when sisters Jody and Julie Turner formed a band with school friend Tracey Lamb. I recall seeing them make an impressive appearance at the 1982 Reading Festival as a new up-and-coming group. A year later they released their self-titled debut album to much acclaim. Line-up changes and various degrees of success were achieved before the group disbanded in 1987.
Reuniting the original line-up in 2013 of Jody Turner on guitar, Julie Turner on drums and Lamb on bass, the girls reconnected with long-time fans and a whole new generation of Metalheads! An EP was released in 2017 to let fans know the girls meant business. 'This Time' is the full-length album they have promised, which clocks in at a lean and mean thirty-five minutes.
Things kick off with a guitar riff that sounds like a steal of The Rods' 'Power Lover'. Jodie Turner has plenty of grit in her voice and the big chorus is classic Rock Goddess celebrating their own return. The old-school Metal approach of 'Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right' finds the guitar tearing chunks out of you as the bass locks down a thunderous rumble. Julie Turner's percussion work drives 'Calling To Space' along like artillery fire and the chorus is delivered in a way that will stick in your head.
'Flying To See You' reminds us that Jodie Turner has a diverse singing voice with much light and shade to it on this more seductive lilt, whereas 'Why Do We Never Learn' finds her taking the full-on banshee approach. The slowest moment on the album is saved for 'Drive Me Away' which is a Blues Rock idea with a stratospheric guitar solo.
Rock Goddess are back doing what they do best – Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll!
Ray Paul