Prophets Of Addiction – Face The Music
(BraveWords Records – 2024)
(Genre – Goth / Punk / Glam)
This Punk infused Gothic Rock album is mixed with scything riffs and gentle acoustic guitar, which makes you sit up and take notice!
Lesli Sanders, the main man, supplies the songs and vocals along with guitar. His gravelly voice sits on top of the music creating feel and depth, the music within contains so many different aspects that it can’t help than impress the listener. Obviously, it features bass and drums but they are only the rhythm section that the foundations of the songs are built around. It is everything else that adds a multitude of dimensions that makes this stand out in glorious fashion.
Yes, it is punky, yes it has a goth edge at times, yet there is so much more going on, like the piano and mandolin courtesy of Phil Soussan, the man of Ozzy fame! Tchad Drats adds Ebow, while Terry Bratsch sprinkles a bit of electric steel. At times it crosses into Glam Rock territory while all the time offering something distinct and engaging.
All the songs offer a different vibe with some interesting lyrics. The cover of Rod Stewart’s ‘Maggie May’ is a great interpretation, it is hi octane and much faster. It impressed drummer Carmine Appice so much, (he occupied the drum stool for Rod from 1976 – 82.) He asked if he could send it to Sir Rod, I wonder what he thought of it.
‘Play For You’ has the sneer of Billy Idol all over it, I guess that was influenced by Soussan, who was Idol’s bassist. ‘Face The Music’ as an album is raw and packed with catchy choruses that hook you in and ingrain memorably into the brain. ‘I Want You To Know’ has the fire of The Clash, whereas ‘Hollywood’ is a largely acoustic song that laments living in the city of angels, it features an excellent lead solo.
‘Let’s Get High’ adds another flavour with a Sister Of Mercy sound, I really like the lyrics and the meaning. In our teenage years, especially those of us who were around before the CD, we felt huge excitement as we purchased the latest album by our favourite artist. We would hold the sleeve tightly in our hands and devour the information, as we listened, hence let’s get high. Exciting times!
‘Superhero’ is another stand out track, it is jangly and angular, Sanders says it is a song he has been sitting on for a while, but has waited to get the right musicians in place before recording it. I can assure him that he has the right band behind him and this latest Prophets Of Addiction album is a showcase of all their talents.
Four albums in the Prophets have created a discography full of quality with Glam Rock influences that should appeal to a cross section of girls & boys, turn it up & come on feel the noise.
By Paul Mace