Walter Trout again easily establishes himself as a blues/rock megalodon with his latest cd "Relentless."
Though this recording took place at the Paradiso Nightclub in Amsterdam, you
would never know it. Audience sounds for the most part are miked out in
such a way, "Relentless" can pass for a studio recording.
Whatever the politics, Trout burns through a selection of 14 cuts with
blistering attacks that have made him a favorite among promoters of blues
festival circuits. Trout's songs portray his life on the road and nasty
temptations that are part of the package. "The Life I Chose" is Walter's
biography of choice and circumstances driven by diesel guitar lines and
thick riffs. When he straps on an acoustic guitar, he can design an Aesop
fable in "Jericho Road" that is worth the money of this cd alone.
Cutting his chops as a sideman for John Mayall, Canned Heat and others has
been a road education for Trout who never lost his books. Picking bassist
Jimmy Trapp, organist Sammy Avila and drummer Joey Pafumi builds a sound
harkening back to the days of yesteryear when rock dinosaurs Jimmy Page,
Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore roamed the earth flexing star attitude in
smoke-filled coliseums.
The key is Trout doesn't get hung up in an indulgence factor that would
otherwise ruin his music. Walter isn't a total blues man. But blues is a
theme in material like "I'm Tired" and "Work No More" that sees Trout
succeeding in his role as blues guitar god with brain ripping guitar.
Avila's organ pushes to the forefront in the roadhouse boogie of "Talk To
Ya." Trout isn't oblivious to the computer age as he uses "Chatroom Girl"
as part of his textbook of personal humor and the finest of blues riff rock.
Sometimes he slows down. He can croon a ballad with the best of them in
"Cry If You Want To" that sees a lot less wood cutting by Trout's ornery
axe. Domestic family violence rears its ugly head in a frightening
"Collingswood" that is retrospective coliseum rock.
The blues mood will find Walter sooner or later. It will embrace him when
he sings to his wife Marie "My Heart is True" which becomes Walter's
trademark of manic guitar fury. Trout can't resist a solid acoustic number
and breaks it down in "Lonely Tonight" and quickly picks up slack in "Helpin
Hand" that simply says live one day at a time. Organist Avila with bassist
Trapp and drummer Pafumi build a steeple for where Walter can place bricks
of blues. Trout can be a genius with just the right blues rock riffing and
"Empty Eyes" is a pure example of that with lyrics depicting downfalls of
beloved friends.
Just when you thought Trout exhausted his bag of tricks, he still manages to
pull out fresh ideas that make him an immediate successor to any vacancies
left on the blues-rock throne.
Buy this CD NOW:
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