The hotly anticipated new release from the vocal powerhouse that is Mr Ricky Warwick. Since the Wild and Wonderful days of The Almighty, Warwick has, in his 35 year career to date, achieved both solo success and, has stood shoulder to shoulder with greatness, filling some truly legendary boots, in Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders. He continues to perform with The Fighting Hearts and has recently enjoyed a run of dates with The Almighty that sold out in record time. His first solo release since 2021, Blood Ties, demonstrates exactly why Warwick has earned his place as a veritable stalwart within the UK’s music scene.
Opening track, Angels Of Desolation starts strong and sets the tone and the bar high for Blood Ties. Segueing into Rise and Grind, with the welcome addition of Mr Charlie Starr, you might expect to have a little twang of Southern spice, however, what you get is a deliciously funky track, with ‘sharp as a blade’ metal riffs and plenty of blast beats from the rhythm section.
There are some vocals that emote incredibly well in duet form and Lita Ford is undoubtedly one of the grandmasters of the collab. Don’t Leave Me In The Dark, has the same magic and lure as her work with Ozzy Osbourne, and, the Warwick/Ford harmonies, along with a heartbeat drum track and some truly stunning guitar, Don’t Leave Me In The Dark, is surely, a hit in the making.
Grounded firmly in classic rock n roll, with shimmering cymbals and a rolling thunder of guitar and bass, The Crickets Stayed In Clovis is a celebration. Evoking nostalgia and giving a respectful nod to Buddy and his colleagues, The Crickets Stayed In Clovis is a standout track, which, is no easy feat considering the content here in Blood Ties.
Assaulting the senses with a visceral spoken word intro proclaiming Ginger Jesus will make you see the light and launching us head first into the balls to the wall, Dead and Gone. A tale of misadventure and addiction. The battle of wills, the path to self destruction at the behest of a needle. Harsh but emotive, wrapped around a rollicking riff and punchy vocals, make no mistake, there is a lesson here and Warwick’s delivery is sure to make you listen and learn.
The Cult’s very own Billy Duffy makes a guest appearance on stand out track, The Hell Of Me And You. Instantly recognisable, Duffy’s razorlike riffs slice through Warwick’s honey coated gravel tones, making for a seductive combination of aural stimulation, the enticing and irresistible urge to make bad decisions, in the pursuit of pleasure.
Blood Ties is a journey, rammed to the hilt with all of the grit and swagger that we have come to expect from Warwick’s sound. An album to make you want to pull on a leather, shoot some malt and head out into the dirty streets looking for a fight, there is indeed a killer on the loose once again and, this time, his name is Ricky Warwick.
Words by Viki Ridley
