Recently PISTON have been impressing rock fans at major festivals across the UK with appearances at Hard Rock Hell with Blue Oyster Cult and Legends of Rock with Nazareth and on stage last weekend, at the Ramblin’ Man Fair. More dates (with Collateral) have been announced (see poster below video.)
The British five-piece will release their self-titled debut album on Friday 13th September 2019.
The 10-song album was recorded at Silk Mill Studios in Newcastle Under Lyme and was produced by Dan Swift (Iggy Pope). It includes two extra songs, One More Day and Rainmaker remixed by Romesh Dodangoda (Motörhead)
We had a listen:
The album begins with “Dynamite” a number about following your instincts and believing in your own power to make something explosive happen. It is a cheerful and lively combination of bouncy ‘n’ upbeat rhythms, twangathon guitars and a sing-out chorus that brings to mind Def Leppard. Yeah, this “feels so right...”
“Rainmaker” [the video is shared below] comes with scurrilous percussion, throaty riffs, embracing bass rhythms and vocals that strut their muscularity. This is more blues and much less “glammy” than the lead track. Listening to this is like washing your body with Old Spice before devouring a juicy steak, drinking a yard of beer and fighting off a grizzly. In other words: it’s rendered as a handsome vibe, with clean-lined manliness and more than a hint of sweat, gasoline, and animal blood.
Another exciting hymn is: “ One More Day” — probably about trusting the natural rhythms of life. “It started with a kiss…” they suggest. The snappy chorus has showroom appeal and the screaming guitars provide scintillating immediacy. The voice is unrushed, with a stride that matches the ever tigerish drums. This is a faultless lump of rock.
“ Blow It Away” has the most tempting riff you can imagine. It is compound and vigorous. The tip-top vocals are heartfelt on this song about living for tomorrow. Like other songs on this competent album, the bass here takes limelight at times. But the whole piece overflows with intelligent energy.
If you like your rock to be serious, loud and energizing, perhaps stoic without being hard-nosed, and you miss the golden days of 1970s — Free, Montrose, and Black Diamond era Kiss — this is very definitely for you.
Produced by Dan Swift
Remixes by Romesh Dodangoda
Recorded at Silk Mill Studios
All songs written by Piston
Piston Line Up:
Vocals: Rob Angelico
Guitars: Jack Edwards
Guitars: Luke Allatt
Bass: Stuart Egan
Drums: Brad Newlands
Release date: Friday 13th September 2019
RAW RAMP 