GUNSMITHS: Early Warning EP

By Ania Glowacz

A blast from the past it would seem. This is out and out LA rock, a la Guns N’ Roses, and none the worse for it. 2 Minute Warning (unfortunately reversed with the second track on the cover listing) is an instant scene setter; bluesy, confident rock ’n’ roll swagger, and making a positive first impression. Unfortunately things take a bit of a dive on what is track one, on the credits. Dirty Touch starts off well with a Hendrix-style intro, but falls flat on the vocals (not the same singer as the other three songs) and doesn’t quite recover. Next up it’s back to the Axl Rose-flavoured leanings (Hey Mister, about pan-handling for money or booze) and Gunsmiths are back in the game. Last track Kick The Crack has a bluesy swagger about and is done well. Recorded, produced and mastered at the ‘Moet Dungeon’ in Milford, Auckland by Chris Neilson, this is a tidy sampler of a band I’d describe as a really good pub blues/rock band. Maybe slightly out of synch with the times, but there’s still room for this style of rock – when done well. We could stand to hear more than four tracks.

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Issues

NZ Musician

December/January 2012