Veteran rock band Angeles returned this week with its latest album, Running Like An Outlaw. Independently released Friday, the record is the band’s 14th and came less then two years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Hell on High Heels. The eight-song record will appeal primarily to the band’s established audiences, as has already been proven by the album’s current singles, ‘Nothing But Love’ and ‘Witch Hunter.’ Each song will be discussed here. When they are considered along with the likes of ‘She’s On Fire,’ the album’s closer, and with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes Running Like An Outlaw a record that Angeles’ most devoted audiences will find engaging and entertaining.
Running Like An Outlaw, the latest album from veteran rock band Angeles is a presentation that will find appeal among a very targeted audience. That is evidenced through the album’s musical and lyrical content. The record’s lead single, ‘Witch Hunter,’ is just one of the songs that serves to support the noted statement. The musical arrangement featured in ‘Witch Hunter’ is a mostly driving composition. The combination of the vocals alongside bassist Cal Shelton’s performance, Dale Lytle’s work on guitar, and the time keeping gives the song a sound and stylistic approach that will appeal to any classic rock fan. The whole shows an interesting mix of influence from the likes of Judas Priest, Motley Crue, and Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, it sounds like quite the eccentric mix, but it works here.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrics. In listening to the song, listeners are left to infer that this song’s lyrics center on…well…a witch hunter. That would match up with lyrics of so much music from that era.
‘Nothing But Love’ shows how Angeles’ new album also through its musical arrangement. The arrangement in this case is another upbeat, guitar-driven composition. The combination of the vocals and the distinct vintage guitar rock approach and sound will take audiences back to that eera of big hair and even bigger riffs. Influences from the likes of Motley Crue and Poison are evident throughout the four minute-plus composition.
The lyrical content featured alongside the song’s musical arrangement is just as familiar as the musical content. It focuses on the all too familiar topic of a broken relationship. New front man Mason Oliver (who replaced Louis Collins) last year, makes that clear when he sings here about seeing that love interest everywhere he goes. He sings, “There’s nothing but love for you/No matter where I go…I still see you.” Again, the theme here is clear. Whether intended or not, Oliver also makes references to songs from Metallica, and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell in the lyrical content. That makes for its own interest. All these considered, the song’s lyrical and musical content collectively just one more example of what makes this album appealing for the band’s noted audiences. ‘She’s On Fire,’ the album’s finale, is yet one more way in which the noted statement is supported.
‘She’s On Fire’ stands out musically because while the vintage rock sound is just as present as in any of the album’s other songs, the overall arrangement takes the band more in a Led Zeppelin direction. Even the vocal delivery here is comparable to that of Robert Plant while the guitar riff sounds so much like that of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog Mountain’ at points. Even the drums sound so rich, thanks to the production that went into the song. The whole of the arrangement makes the song appealing in its own right. The energy in the arrangement works well with the song’s lyrical content, which once again focuses on a woman.
In the case of this song, the woman in question is one over which the song’s subject is head over heels. This is made clear as Oliver sings, “Hey, girl/I see the fire in your eyes/Hey, girl/So many times, you tried to hide.” He goes on later to sing, “She’s on fire” amid everything else. Again, the whole is a man declaring how crazy he is for said woman. It’s another classic rock standard that is certain to appeal to the noted audiences and to fans of classic rock in general. When the song in whole is considered along with the others examined here and with the album’s other songs, the whole of that content ensures that Angeles’ established audiences and casual vintage rock fans alike will enjoy this record.
Angeles’ new album, Running Like An Outlaw, is a presentation that will appeal to avert distinct range of listeners. That is due to its combined musical and lyrical content (and its production). The band’s established audiences will find the record appealing just as much as casual classic rock fans because of said content and production. The songs examined here make that clear. When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the overall album worth hearing at least once.
Running Like An Outlaw is available now through Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal. More information on Angeles’ new album is available online along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Website: https://www.angelesband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAngelesBand
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