The Killer Instinct

One of the most solid hard rock groups in the world! Ricky Warwick is an amazing vocalist & songwriter, Damon Johnson a phenomenal guitar player, Jimmy DeGrasso is a world class drummer, Robbie Crane a proven bassist, & Scott Gorham a rock guitar legend! I thoroughly enjoyed this album from the beginning to the end! My favorite tracks are Killer Instinct, Bullet Blues, Finest Hour, Sex, Guns, & Gasoline! One of the most solid hard rock albums I have ever heard.

I must admit... Ever since seeing Thin lizzy back in the early '80's, I thought that nothing could hit this point again. We have had Damn Yankee's which were pretty Damn good. Chickenfoot is of course over the top. We are talking new, great Hard Rock. Joe Bonamassa. Pretty good, but full of himself. Yeah, Seen him... Walked out. Reno. Chickenfoot, Satriani, Hagar, Anthony... Is Crème de' la' Crème. Then tonight... Still listening... This is over the fu*king top!!! I saw Thin Lizzy in Reno in 2012. Incredible!!! My ears are still ringing! (Thank you Army). I just downloaded this CD and OMFG! it is something beyond special. If I could give this 6 stars, I would. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!

While some of the songs sound a bit like from the first album (a lot of Hoodoo Voodoo opening riffs) the band has kept the drive and intensity going on the right direction. Their first two albums remind me of Iron Maiden's first two offerings, both BSR's first two albums could be combined into double LP's as they drive off each other. Killer Instinct will not disappoint as the boys continue with great harmonic reaches with the best twin guitar work and Jimmy DeGrasso has found his way in the band with solid perc. The band has established themselves with their own identity while keeping the Lizzy legend in the present. For their next album, BSR needs to pull away from their comfort zone; avoid becoming formulaic, something Lizzy could not be accused of. "Little Liar" is a great example of breaking through zone with great guitar work. Very good acoustic work on Bonus CD too, really impactful. Good job.

I was pleasantly surprised at the high quality of this album. Ricky Warwick sounds great and the lyrics are better than average rock n roll drivel. Damon Johnson's guitar work is spot on and gives this recording the kick it needs to made it above average. Scott Gorham's guitar work adds that great rounded sound that you can't get from a one guitar band. I saw them play in May of 2014 when they were doing mostly Thin Lizzy tunes. I think this album will establish that they don't need to play the Lizzy tunes if they don't want too. Good Recording.

The best hard rock album Thin Lizzy never did. It rocks non stop, still listening to it after weeks of rotation in CD player and with 7,000 CD's to compete with and new CD's coming in every week that is saying something. Now sure what IT is but this CD has IT. Like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll, listen to this CD then you will have the Rockin revelation I have here. If you don't like 70's Rock or Thin Lizzy and prefer pop techno or Rap you won't like this BUT if you like to hear great rock Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie and Black Foot you will like this.

My headline sums it up for me. The first BSR was a good solid rock album. Often a band suffers on their sophomore release, not here! This is a perfect record, not a dud on here. To me the production, and that special punch is clearly brought out on this masterpiece. That's what kicks this one up a notch. Both albums have great songwriting and quality musicianship. Ricky Warick is clearly the correct replacement vocalist for the great Phil Lynott as this is of course, an extension of the outstanding Thin Lizzy! 5 stars and potentially the greatest record of 2015!

Wow, to be honest, I bought this album because I'm a huge Lizzy fan, and I wanted to support Scott Gorham's work. The reason I didn't expect much is the state of the industry. Most new albums from old bands stink. But this is a new band, with an Old guy that rocks. And the songwriting team does a wonderful job of reminding us of Lizzy, but with a fresh take. Phil is certainly proud of BSR, Gary Moore maybe too.

Written review will be different for each individuals musical preference, I myself found this recording excellent. In a world , now days, where "electronic" music is the norm. IT IS!, very pleasing to hear some real musicianship. I also liked the lyrical content of the songs. NOW!, the packaging of the cd was the same as I pack cd's for shipment. This definitely shows that the people at "The Niclel",...KNOW music! I will definitely check them out for future "sound sales", since I know my purchase will arrive without damage :) They package for safe transport. What they do is uncommon. When you buy yours...you'll be impressed with the packaging, you'll see! :)

Me gusta esta banda

One of the best rock albums I've heard in years. Sounds like a modern day Thin Lizzy should. You can hear and feel Phil's spirit and could almost imagine him singing/playing this now, yet the album still maintains its originality and doesn't feel like a Lizzy copy. Solid writing and performance by all involved. Definitely my favorite purchase of the year. Bought all three BSR albums at the same time (what would be the hearing version of "sight unseen"? sound unheard?) without having heard any of the content, and I just can't stop listening to them. Get the special editions if you can; the bonus material is great.

THE KILLER INSTINCT , ovvero il secondo capitolo discografico di un potentissimo gruppo di ispirazione hard & heavy rock che per motivi di rispetto di quella grande figura che e' stata PHIL LYNOTT , venuto a mancare nel 1986 , si chiama BLACK STAR RIDERS , ma che nelle esecuzioni dal vivo utilizza ancora il vecchio nome THIN LIZZY . Il debutto sulle scene o meglio , per essere precisi il ritorno dei vecchi LIZZY risale al maggio 2013 con un grandissimo album , che ricalcava fedelmente il suono e le atmosfere del periodo 1974 - 1983 , ossia quello che ha prodotto dischi strepitosi ed esaltanti per la band che adesso e' stata presa in consegna dal lead guitarist SCOTT GORHAM , con il contributo fondamentale nel ruolo di vocalist dell ’ ex ALMIGHTY RICKY WARWICK , che riesce nella difficilissima impresa di non far sentire la mancanza del vecchio bassista e cantante nel ruolo di frontman , che collabora attivamente insieme all ' altro chitarrista DAMON JOHNSON alla composizione delle dieci tracce che compongono il cd vero e proprio , scrivendo partiture melodiche in un contesto di durezza tipico di una autentica e con tanto di attributi formazione di hard rock classico e tradizionaleche prende a schiaffi gruppi attuali di varia derivazione , che si spacciano per essere i nuovi LED ZEPPELIN , BLACK SABBATH o DEEP PURPLE e non riuscendo ad essere degni di allacciare le scarpe a JIMMY PAGE , RITCHIE BLACKMORE o TONY IOMMI tanto e‘ profondo il divario tra le tre band fondamentali nella storia dell‘ hard rock e che hanno dato origine all‘ heavy metal e i gruppetti contemporanei che sono capaci esclusivamente di scimmiottarli indegnamente . Il risultato finale e‘ che il quintetto che vede la partecipazione di ROBBIE CRANE al basso e JIMMY DEGRASSO alla batteria , con la pubblicazione di THE KILLER INSTINCT raggiunge livelli strepitosi di bravura in termine sia di stesura che di esecuzione delle canzoni , senza avere neanche un momento di pausa o peggio di brani riempitivi , tenendo l' ascoltatore in tensione e riuscendo ad esaltarlo e gratificarlo con quarantasei minuti di musica con la M maiuscola , tosta , grintosa , senza fronzoli senza avere neanche un minimo cedimento a pezzi scritti per accattivarsi chissa‘ quali simpatie da gente che ha poca dimestichezza con il rock genuino e originale che pare proprio , se non fosse per i vecchi musicisti stile anni settanta , non esistere piu' , vedi il caso eclatante di 13 dei BLACK SABBATH , che sia pure con un sound rinnovato e al passo con la tecnologia sempre piu’ evoluta , riporta la gloriosa band inglese a livelli impensabili per gente che si avvicina alla settantina . Ma purtroppo il livello della musica contemporanea e’ tremendamente caduto in basso con la fine degli anni ruggenti del grunge o del nu metal , e con le debite e straordinarie eccezioni rappresentate dai DREAM THEATER e soprattutto degli ALTER BRIDGE , che possono vantare un chitarrista come MARK TREMONTI tra i primi cinque al mondo , sicuramente il numero uno per quanto concerne la tecnica unita alla varieta’ del repertorio compositivo e sicuramente il piu’ completo tra quelli attualmente in circolazione e un lead vocalist come MYLES KENNEDY che addirittura i LED ZEPPELIN volevano nella nuova formazione al posto di ROBERT PLANT , e quindi ci dobbiamo accontentare dei BLACK STAR RIDERS , che pur non raggiungendo i livelli dei THIN LIZZY capitanati da una figura impareggiabile come PHIL LYNOTT , hanno il grande merito e tutte le capacita' per incidere un cd veramente massiccio e potente , arricchito da momenti di melodia che arricchiscono e abbelliscono le canzoni , oltre che a rappresentare tracce di autentico irish folk rock , come la numero quattro , SOLDIERSTOWN , che riesce a dare un tocco in piu' ad un grande lavoro , come ormai e’ sempre piu’ difficile da trovare in circolazione . Cinque stelle di giudizio finale obbligatorie e cd consigliatissimo e fondamentale per tutti quelli che non solo vogliono ascoltare i suoni e le atmosfere anni settanta ottanta dei vecchi THIN LIZZY , ma anche un lavoro con tanto di attributi che ormai se ne sentono assai pochi in giro .

SCOT GORHAM率いる「事実上のTHIN LIZZY」のセカンド・アルバム。 ジャケット・デザインのイメージどおり、前作からの延長線上の作風、即ち、LIZZYが生きていたらこんなアルバムつくるんだろうな的な内容です。 １曲目からいきなりLIZZY節全開。 ヴォーカリストはフィルになりきって「詩い」あげ、ツイン・リードはあの時のごとくハモりまくります。 今回の極め付けはｔｒ4「SOLDIERSTOWN」。 名曲「EMERALD」的（あくまで「的」です）なギター・リフとツインのハモり。 もはや代用品の域を超え、完全にオリジナルLIZZYの快感を味わうことができます。 ｔｒ9「TURN IN YOUR ARMS」のツイン・リードのメロディーも「もろ」です。 ファーストが好評だったことから、LIZZYっぽさの追求に迷いが無くなったのでしょうか。 前作以上に全編通して「そのまんま」です。 それを批判する人もいるかも知れませんが、楽曲の水準が文句の付けようのないほどに高いので、僕は大歓迎です。 フィルもあの世で手を叩いてくれているのではないか。 そんな風にさえ思えるほど、愛情と敬意に満ちた作品です。 ボーナスCDは本編未収録曲（２曲）と、本編収録曲のアコースティック・ヴァージョン（４曲）。 美味しすぎるオマケです。

Phew, just come out the other side of my first listen to the new album Killer Instinct from Black Star Riders and I have to say I already love pretty much every note and every word of the 10 tracks on the actual album. This is the sound of a new band that has certainly not suffered from that fateful 'second album syndrome.' Killer Instinct is the very vibrant high octane sound of a band that has truly found its own identity. Melodic hard rock of the highest order. Robby Crane and Jimmy Degrasso mine the vaults for the deep heavy punchy rhythms.That unique twin guitar harmony as pioneered and perfected by Scott Gorham reigns supreme in tandem with Damon Johnson, aligned with some truly scorching piercing solos. Then there is the man at the front with one of the hardest jobs in rock 'n' roll, Mr Ricky Warwick, no ghosts of Phil Lynott here, Warwick is his own man in terms of his musicianship, lyricism and personality. The great man may always cast a shadow but it would be a loving shadow wrapping itself around the members of BSR. This really is an album definitive of a band that is comfortable in its own skin and knows where it is heading, it really is a strong album, with driving pedal to the metal rockers that will have you punching the air, laid back groove laden rockers, a little deft rock balladry and of course the chiming echoes of some Celtic infusions. The title track rips out of the speakers on greased rails hitting a high benchmark followed by the heavy Blues Rock coda of Bullet Blues. The Celtic mysticism first surfaces on the epic narration of the utterly glorious Soldierstown. The sweeping balladry is evidenced on the touching acoustic beauty of Blindsided. Just listen to the lyrics of a life lived hard and full and the truly haunting mid number sustained solo. Of course there are some clear nods to the sound of Thin Lizzy but with Scott such a presence how could there not be. That Lizzy sound was and remains a unique sound and I for one am delighted Scott and the guys keep that eternal flame burning bright. Without those nods this would be a really great album, with them present it is a brilliant album. I can already picture pretty much every one becoming a live favourite. Just a few random thoughts after 40 minutes of exquisite music, now where is that remote control? I need an immediate second listen to confirm it is as good as I know it is!