Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons – We’re The Bastards
Release Date: 13th November 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
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Genre: Hard Rock
FFO: Motorhead
Review By: Paul Franklin
Love an anthem.
That uplifting, glorious song that makes our hearts swell, our skin tingle and our throats sore. We roar along, uninhibited and overwhelmed by the camaraderie and the sense of belonging. In that moment, there are no differences to divide us, only common ground to unify us. In that moment we’re together and we’re the same – We’re The Bastards.
“Music is medicine, music is therapy….. It’s in our DNA, the roots of the family tree. We love the music loud, play it louder….. Rock ‘n roll renegades, sharing the same blood. Don’t ask to turn it down, we only turn it up” The opening title track IS that glorious anthem and also a perfect introduction to the band. Recognising the father and son(s) dynamic, Phil (guitar), Tyla (bass), Todd (guitar), and Dane (Drums), and highlighting the fact that dad spent over 30 in arguably the loudest rock n’ roll band on the planet. The blazing solo and the call and response chant of “We’re the Bastards!” will ensure that this is a staple of their live set for years to come.
As vocalist Neil Starr explains their 2018 debut, The Age of Absurdity, was written without any expectations, “We knew people would check us out…at the start I guess a lot of people came to hear Motörhead songs, but now they’re singing all the words to our songs and that’s great!” This fan support and the widely positive reviews the debut received, meant that the band were buzzing with confidence and were buggered if they were going to let a little thing like a national lockdown prevent them from producing the follow-up.
Recorded at Todd Campell’s own studio in Wales, We’re The Bastards is thunderous rock ‘n’ roll. You can feel the energy and the enthusiasm dripping form every groove, and whilst perhaps not as scuzzy as Mr Campbell Snr’s previous trio, it still sounds huge, and tighter than a camel’s arse in a sandstorm.
Both the fast-riff driven Son of a Gun, which rolls in on a familiar bass noodle, and the stampeding Animals pause in nostalgia just long enough for a nod over the shoulder, and maybe a wry smile to Mr K. as they speed past. Whereas Promises are Poison and Born to Roam take on some of that bluesy, swagger that you would associate with American Hard Rock and puts you in mind of bands like Black Stone Cherry. Desert Song slows the pace slightly with a more deliberate hazy, stoner vibe, whilst the filthy riffs of Keep Your Jacket On sound like an 80’s biker gang revving up and hitting the road.
The final two tracks offer the biggest contrast. Destroyed flobs up 2 minutes of old school punk with a (literal)‘Fuck You!’ attitude before Waves opens up and catches it’s breath to close the album with a more relaxed grunge-like atmosphere.
Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons have delivered a great, honest rock ‘n’ roll record, and they sound like they had a blast doing it. I don’t think Phil’s planning on a quiet retirement anytime soon. To quote Animals “I’m not addicted, I just can’t walk away!”
(4 / 5)
