One of the downsides of being a music reviewer is that I rarely listen to music out of choice as I am always playing albums which need to be reviewed. But one of the major upsides is when one is sent an album like this and the only question is, “where have you guys been?”. They would probably answer with “Croatia”, as against all of the evidence of my ears that is where they were formed in 2010 by Boris Dugi-Novački (known now as Boris Zamba) who provides guitar, bass and vocals. Alongside him on the fourth album is drummer Damir Šomen plus Neven Resnik on keyboards, guitars and bass. They also have guests in Muddy Manninen (ex-Wishbone Ash, Black Pearl), Mick Pini and Marcus Flynn, who all add their own unique take on the blues while all the English lyrics were provided by Pete Feenstra, who is incredibly well known in the blues scene.
This is an album which makes the listener smile, taking us back to when music was honest, delicate yet full of emotion and power, with blues at the heart and soul of what is taking place onstage. There are times I am reminded of Stevie Ray Vaughan, others Jeff Healey, while Juicy Lucy and Blodwyn Pig have surely also been influences. This never feels like an album from the heart of Europe in 2025 but sounds as if it has exploded out of the UK in the early Seventies, with those playing being massively influenced by what is happening in the States. It is high octane stuff, designed to get the listener moving, no navel-gazing wrenching of notes but instead this is blues rock played by people who really believe in it. The result is an album which is a blast from beginning to end, and if you have ever moaned about what the current music scene is delivering then grab this and play it loud.
Rating: 9/10