Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group
Rock super group Bad Blood released its self-titled debut record last month, and in the short time since its release the album has gotten quite the attention. Aquaman himself, Jason Mamoa has thrown his support behind the band and its album, tweeting, “My dear friend @kennnydaleborill and his band @badbloodofficial just released their album. That tweet was delivered when the album was released July 26. Roughly a month later, the album continues to impress with its musical arrangements and lyrical themes of overcoming adversity. ‘Light ‘Em Up’ is just one of the songs that serves to illustrate and support the noted statements. It will be addressed shortly. ‘We Will Prevail,’ which comes much later in the half-hour record’s run, also displays the strength of those arrangements and themes. It will be addressed a little later. Much the same can be said of ‘Anything Is Possible.’ All three songs show in their own way, the appeal of the album’s musical arrangements and positive lyrical themes. When they are considered alongside the likes of ‘Rise Up (Bring It On),’ ‘Own The Night’ and ‘I Am The Hero’ and the rest of the record’s entries, the whole of Bad Blood proves that the record in whole is anything but bad.
Bad Blood’s self-titled debut album is easily one of this year’s most surprisingly enjoyable offerings within the rock realm and one of the year’s best new independent albums, too. From start to finish, this 10-song, half-hour debut from the rock super group proves that while the band’s (and album’s) name is Bad Blood, the album in whole is anything but bad. That is proven early on in the form of the album’s second song, ‘Light ‘Em Up.’ The song’s arrangement is a high-energy composition that is driven largely by its guitars and time keeping. It will appeal highly to fans of bands, such as Eve To Adam, Buckcherry and Saliva. The hooks and riffs couple with the solid time keeping to make it a song that will easily become a fan favorite both on record and in a live setting, especially with the slight changes in tempo and feel in the song’s bridge. That high-energy arrangement is just one part of what makes ‘Light ‘Em Up’ such a favorite among listeners. As noted earlier, this record is full, lyrically, of positive, upbeat lyrical themes. This song is no exception to that rule. It plays its own key part to the whole of the song.
Front man Chad Cherry sings in the song’s lead verse, “…hell bent and holdin’ the line/Clock’s tickin’/Heart’s kickin’/It’s a race against time/Better buckle up, it’s a hell of a ride/Straight from the cradle/Send ‘em to the grave/Rain down the fury in 10,000 waves/Better buckle up, it’s a hell of a ride.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Can you feel the thunder/Feel it in your bones/Time to take ‘em under/Time to send ‘em home/better buckle up/It’s a hell of a ride.” Yes, it’s a relatively basic message, but it is a positive message. It is a message of doing the absolute best that one can and being better than the competition, regardless of the situation, taking people by surprise by that drive. When that message couples with the song’s adrenaline-fueled arrangement, the whole of the song becomes instantly one of Bad Blood’s best offerings and strongest examples of what makes the album in whole so appealing. It is of course just one of the songs that serves to show how much the album has to offer listeners. ‘We Will Prevail’ is another example of the album’s strength, both musically and lyrically.
‘We Will Prevail’ presents a slower, yet solid driving arrangement that is again centered on its guitars and drums. Its bass line rounds out its foundation, creating a very blues-based rock arrangement that lends itself to arrangements from the likes of Muse. That arrangement is just one part of what makes the song stand out. As is the case with ‘Light ‘Em Up,’ this song’s lyrical content is positive in its own right.
Cherry sings in the song’s lead verse of “black hole eyes” and “dark hearts with intent to kill.” He and his band mates sing on the song’s chorus, “Our souls are not for sale/Stand up/We will prevail/Tonight we rise/through all the lies/This is our time/Stand up we will prevail!” The song’s second verse finds Cherry singing, “Petrified, crucified/Bank on fear/All seeing eye/Shout out/Battlecry/Won’t back down/Our flag will fly.” This critic’s own take on this message is one of standing up to life’s adversity, not giving in to those forces that will and do work to push us down and kick us when we are down. Cherry seems to be telling listeners to not give in to the negative forces in life, and to overcome them, too. It is another message that any listener will welcome. When it is joined with the song’s infectious arrangement, the whole of the elements serves to show even more why Bad Blood is such a positive new offering from the band. It still is not the last of the album’s most notable entries. ‘Anything Is Possible’ is yet another addition to Bad Blood that exhibits the album’s strength.
‘Anything Is Possible’ is another blues-based rock song that lends itself again to Buckcherry and even to the likes of AC/DC and Airbourne. That is the case even down to the song’s bluesy bridge, which immediately conjures thoughts of riffs made so famous by the one and only Angus Young. What is important to note here is that while this song’s arrangement can so easily be compared to the noted acts, it doesn’t just rip off their music. Rather it uses those influences to develop its own musical identity, which is even better for the song. The same can be said of the other songs discussed here. They also are comparable to those noted acts’ works, but still maintain their own identity. Again, here is something key to note of those songs and the rest of the album’s entries. Now having noted that and getting back on track, the musical side of ‘Anything is Possible’ is only one part of what makes the song notable. Its lyrical side plays its own important part to its whole.
Cherry sings in the song’s lead verse, “Sing a little song/Dance to the beat/Let’s go downtown/Let’s get on down/I got that funny feelin’/I know what you’re dealin’/You are contagious/I got that funny feelin’/I know what you’re dealin’/You are outrageous/When I’m with you, anything is possible/When I’m with you.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “Transistor radio/Turn it up as loud as it can go/A.M. disco radio/It’s got a real nice flow/Jump to the ceiling/I know the feeling/Goodness gracious/Jump to the ceiling/I know the feeling/You are so shameless/When I’m with you, anything is possible/When I’m with you.” Given, on the surface, this song is clearly a piece that focuses on the all-too-common topic of relationships. What is important to note though, is that it is another song that illustrates the underlying theme of positivity that runs throughout the course of the album’s 10 songs. It just does that in a fashion that is perhaps more radio ready than many of the album’s other songs. Considering this, it makes the song stand out that much more. When this is considered alongside the song’s equally accessible musical arrangement, the whole of the song stands out even more as one of the album’s most notable works. When it is considered alongside the other songs noted here and the rest of the album’s offerings, the whole of the album becomes that much more clearly bad in the best way possible.
Bad Blood’s self-titled debut album, released independently last month, is one of the most surprisingly entertaining offerings from the rock community so far this year. It is another offering that shows why the independent music scene deserves just as much credit and attention as the mainstream realm. That is exhibited through all three of the songs noted here and the rest of the album’s offerings. All things considered, they make Bad Blood anything but bad, unless one is using the term “bad” in the best way possible. Bad Blood is available now. More information on Bad Blood is available now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
Website: http://www.badblood.band
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/badbloodbandofficial
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