Spiritual Beggars have been around for a long time. Their first self titled album was released away back in ‘94 and since then the band has strived to make melodious and challenging hard rock music always looking to be that bit different. This is fully fledged retro rock. There are edgy, driving guitar riffs, layered keyboard fills and swirls, big melodic choruses, a firing vocal performance, classy production. A song like the crushing opener “Wise serpent” blows through your ears, the Purple-like “Turn the tide” is perfect for relaxed cruising on the highway with its nice chorus and good bridge or “Sweet magic pain” which alternates between thrilling keyboards and great hefty percussion will only put you in a good mood. But also with songs like the fantastic scorching “Freedom” or the energetic, but still very melodic “Too old to die young” they deliver the goods, depending on your day or night adaptation. “Road to madness” is one of the best songs on here, some excellent vocals on show here throughout this, mostly remaining at a high pitched shrieking leve! “Kingmaker” with all the best elements from the 70’s/80’s hard rock era. . The sound is somewhat similar to guitar work and singing on Sabbath/UFO’s Mob Rules/Phenomenon-albums with Led Zeppelin, very early Scorpions and Rainbow hints and shading. Michael ’ Schenker’ Amott’s dynamic guitar playing, incredible grand Appollo’s shrieking and sometimes emotional vocals, Sharlee D’Angelo’s throbbing bass playing, deep Per Wiberg’s purple organs and Ludwig Witt’s intricate drumming brings all these musical themes into a flowing stunning hard rock disc.
Spritual Beggars are forever.