GLORY OR NOTHING Overdrivers (Roar) ****+
Never heard of this band before and had no idea what to expect, so color me quite pleased to open up a collection of riffy, hard driving rock tunes. Glory Or Nothing hits the right balance between macho bravura and memorable hooks for an authentic rock yer nuts off experience.
I thought the only things to come from France were wine, escargot and attitude, but Overdrivers are sure making the case for French rock & roll. They sing in English of course, and I’d characterize their sound as Accept meets AC/DC with a singer that sounds, at times, like Vince Neil. The thick walls of guitars and an almost military precision to their 4-on-the-floor playing is not the most overly complicated thing you’ll ever hear- hell, not even close- but if you’re of a similar vintage to me it will conjure up memories and images of summer bush parties and getting drunk at the beach with all your buddies. You know, the good old days.
Glory Or Nothing is Overdrivers’ 3rd album since forming in 2015, and if you haven’t heard of them in the colonies they’ve been tearing up stages in Europe. The music here is a pure adrenaline rush… not for speed but for an attitude that will sound familiar if you’re into AC/DC or Rhino Bucket. It really gets the blood up as the Brits would say with its raw, unadulterated power. For the record (ahem) the band is Adrien Desquierez on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Anthony Clay on lead guitar and backing vocals, Florian Morgano on drums and backing vocals, and Lion Das Neves on bass. Names you’re probably not familiar with but like any good rock band worth their weight in beer and nachos they feel like a gang with a ‘one for all and all for one’ attitude.
Glory Or Nothing will make a fine summer road trip album; you can’t ask for more than that.
https://www.facebook.com/overdriversofficial#
HOT TRACKS: Ready For The Rodeo, Kings Of The Road, My Girlfriend Is A Porn Star
OFF THE SOUNDBOARD: LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO Kiss (Universal) *** ½
Kiss may have stopped touring, but that hasn’t stopped them from releasing live albums. Live In San Antonio is the latest installment in their ongoing Off The Soundboard series recorded, I’m guessing, in 1986. Asylum was guitarist Bruce Kulick’s first studio album with the band but the tour was his second after Animalize when he replaced Mark St. John on the road. While the performances are energetic, the sound quality is like a decent bootleg… a 5 or 6 out of 10.
Unlike the studio polished Alive records, Off The Soundboard sets are warts and all, and so it goes with Live In San Antonio. This is a mix of classic era Kiss tunes combined with six 80’s era non-makeup cuts. Kulick’s inclusion with the band is definitely a kick in the ass as he handles but doesn’t necessarily copy Ace Frehley’s stuff, and he shreds plenty too on the aforementioned 80’s material. The songs are played faster than the studio originals, but taking the adrenaline rush of playing them in front of thousands of delirious fans into account, that’s both understandable and expected. It sounds like the band is having a great time.
Drawbacks? Paul Stanley’s skeevy shtick between songs is tiresome, particularly the regular dropping of F-bombs in a lame attempt to sound ‘street’, and his intro to Love Gun is embarrassing. Like any live rock record of its day we have your requisite guitar, bass and drum solos, with only Eric Carr’s drum solo being mildly interesting. As mentioned above the sound quality is similar to a decent bootleg which is a drag, but I do appreciate that it hasn’t been doctored up in the studio as the Alive records were.
The best things about Live In San Antonio are the two newest members of Kiss. Bruce Kulick proves that, even this early in his tenure with the band he is their best lead guitarist, and Eric Carr could wipe the floor with Peter Criss as a drummer. I’d say Carr was their best drummer too, playing with more fire and brimstone than Eric Singer who, though an excellent timekeeper, is almost too precise for rock & roll.
Any drawbacks aside I’ve been a fan since 1974 and am quite happy to have this in my collection, even if I don’t end up spinning it all that often.
HOT TRACKS: Fits Like A Glove, Under The Gun, Detroit Rock City
AT DELMARK Johnny Iguana (Delmark Records) ****
When you talk about the blues most people focus on guitar and harp players- I’m guilty of that myself- but when you have a hot-shit piano player in the band you can really take the music someplace else. At Delmark is the latest from Johnny Iguana, who tickles the ivories with spirit and soul. Just a guy groovin’ on those 88’s for a dozen songs, this disc is an instrumental gem. .
Iguana played alongside some of the greats; Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Derek Trucks and James Cotton, so this guy really knows his blues. ,At Delmark is truly a solo record, just Iguana and a beautiful sounding 1917 Steinway B piano which came via Paul Serrano. The album was recorded live, each track in just one take to analog tape, a combination of originals and blues classics, plus a Neil Young tune in Heart Of Gold. The perennial sideman on countless sessions, it’s cool to have him step into the spotlight his own self so we can listen to his piano playing and hear for ourselves the magic at his command that he has graced so many other artists’ work with. Great timing with an expressive and lively touch on the keys really makes that Steinway sing, and it’s a real joy to hear.
Johnny is an acknowledged master of blues piano, a sophisticated version of Otis Spann you could say, but some of the most delightful moments here come when he tries on some rock & roll, like the AC/DC classic Riff Raff.
I remember years ago Dusty Hill of ZZ Top saying one of the great things about playing in a trio is there’s nowhere to hide; no ‘fucking the dog’ as it were. That goes doubly so for this album. If you enjoy sparkling, gimmick-free production and great piano playing, At Delmark is a fine addition to your collection.
HOT TRACKS: Bass Key Boogie, Messin’ With The Kid, Riff Raff
THE ETERNAL IDOL (vinyl) Black Sabbath (Warner Records) *****
After the re-release of the other Tony Martin- era Sabbath albums last year, this is a treat for the fans. Released on Record Store Day (April 12th, 2025), The Eternal Idol was limited to 6,000 copies. It’s a new remaster from the analog tapes in limited edition translucent red vinyl and includes a reprint of the original lyric sheet. It’s one of my top 5 Sabbath slabs of any era.
Fans- likely the only ones who care- know the difficult history behind the recording of The Eternal Idol. Guitarist Tony Iommi, the only original member, started the record sessions with one lineup and finished with another. Jeff Glixman, who produced the previous year’s Seventh Star started behind the mixing desk and was then replaced by Chris Tsangerides. All of this, I assume was predicated by Black Sabbath’s financial difficulties at the time. Drummers include Eric Singer and Bev Bevan, bassists were Bob Daisley and Dave Spitz, and longtime keyboard player Geoff Nichols was along as well.
When I originally bought The Eternal Idol upon its release in 1987 I found the mix a bit shrill and lacking some bottom end. In this newly remastered vinyl version that high end problem has largely been addressed and it does feel like there is a bit more meat on these bones too, but if you’re happy with the original version from 87 there’s really no reason to buy this unless you need to replace your battered old copy. I gave this 5 stars because I’m satisfied with the slight sonic upgrades, and the red vinyl is kind of cool. Besides; the 2 vinyl copies I already own have been played enthusiastically and often and the years of wear are showing. There’s also a nostalgia element for me too… fall of 87 I was fresh from divorce #1 and just started a nearly 30 year run in broadcasting. I was free, life was good, and this reminds me of those times.
Like I said up top, The Eternal Idol is one of my favorite Black Sabbath records. How Tony Iommi managed such a terrific album under such brutal circumstances truly baffles me, but having this new issue to put beside the other tony Martin-era albums is pretty sweet. Great songs, great riffs and fine performances for all concerned… can’t wait to get home from work tomorrow to listen to this again.
HOT TRACKS: Born To Lose, Glory Ride, Eternal Idol
Want to see more reviews? Check them all out here!
