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Band
Black Star Riders
Title
Killer Instinct
Type
LP/EP
Company
Nuclear Blast
YOR
2015
Style
Hard Rock
4/2/2015 - Review by: Eric Compton

Black Star Riders
Killer Instinct

Company: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2015
Genre: Hard Rock, traditional
Reviewer: Eric Compton
  • A nearly perfect debut album



  • I know the band collectively plays live as the nostalgic Thin Lizzy but the group decided any new studio work shouldn't be under the Lizzy name to honor Phil Lynott and his legacy. I get that and appreciate the preservation but 'Killer Instinct' and the BSR debut 'All Hell Breaks Loose' (2013) are both extremely conversant with Thin Lizzy's sound and ARE essentially Thin Lizzy. Irish front man Ricky Warwick (The Almighty) sounds identical to Lynott and Scott Gorham, the only original band member that played on a Lizzy studio album, continues the same guitar tones and riff stylings that he used on 'Fighting' and 'Bad Reputation'. Cuts like 'Bullet Blues' has that instant accessibility through the addictive chorus, backed by twin guitar melody. It's free, it's lively, it is Thin Lizzy in spirit and song. The wartorn "Soldierstown" is reminiscent of "Angel of Death", an effective guitar lead at the beginning that leads into an Irish sing along. "Sex, Guns & Gasoline" uses robust percussion and busy cymbal work to tell the tale of fugitives and motorcycles. Overall, a stellar piece of work that continues the Thin Lizzy legacy and improves on a nearly perfect debut album.


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: BLACK STAR RIDERS
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Heavy Fire
    2017
    Nuclear Blast
    Eric Compton2/27/2017
    4.5
    Killer Instinct
    2015
    Nuclear Blast
    Eric Compton4/2/2015
    4.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: BLACK STAR RIDERS
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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