Rock record that harks back to the 80s.

The eponymous CD from Wyldsky is a rock record that harks back to the 80s, to the kind of bands who were in turn inspired by the 70s rock groups. The band’s central figure is Tyler Nelson whose membership in Great White is slightly overstated in the promotional blurb as he was only in the band from 2003 to 2005, not exactly the greatest era for the band or their fans. However, they do share that classic rock sound familiar to Jack Russell and co, but with less of the Led Zeppelin influences and instead replace this with a more southern rock feel. A couple of the band used to play with the Stetson wearing Alligator Stew and they bring that finger lickin’ good Southern sensibility to the music. Nelson may not be Jack Russell in the vocal department but he does have a sturdy, gravely voice that reminded me at different times of Ron Young of Little Caesar and Gary Moon who had a brief stint with Night Ranger. While his voice is serviceable, it’s his guitar playing that defines the sound of the record. He’s in no hurry and plays his riffs and solos with a sureness of touch and considerable depth. Many tracks rely heavily on a medium paced old school groove, powered by Michael Lesniak’s reliable drumming. 

It’s the up-tempo numbers which work best such as the dirty groove of ‘Dog Daze’, the pole dancing , Aerosmith pout of ‘Wild Honey’ , that also has a whiff of Baton Rouge or King Baby, and the Quireboys meets Canned Heat chugging ‘My Baby’.

The record changes direction slightly on the ballads ‘Rendezvous’ ,where the overwrought guitar parts echo Slash and Nelson’s vocal phrasing is very redolent of Axel Rose which leads to inevitable Guns N Roses comparisons, and ‘Nightmare And A Dream’ has the shabby charm of Dogs D’Amour. ‘Comin’ On’ with its schizoid riff and more modern Shinedown style influences suggest the band have not only been listening to old vinyl records. There’re no obvious radio hits but it’s great to know that while grunge knocked this kind of rock onto the canvas in the 90s it has refused to stay down and has still got plenty of fight left in it.

Duncan Jamieson