Review: Palace Of The King – Friends In Low Places

Reckless Records (December 14^th, 2023)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

Aussie rockers Palace Of The King formed back in 2012 and spent the first couple of years spreading their music across their native Australia. Airbourne‘s Joel O’Keeffe said of the band “Palace Of The King is literally like a huge ground shaking Palace of RIFFS, SOUL and Rock’n’Roll.”

I first stumbled across Palace Of The King back in 2015 when I was sent the promo to their 2nd release ‘White Bird / Burn The Sky‘. I was instantly hooked to what I heard as something old yet fresh, if that makes some kind of sense? The press release stated the band were “Steeped in bluesy swagger and riff-heavy psychedelia“. Throw in some underlying funkiness and you’re pretty much on the money.

So here we are, 2023 and the band’s latest release ‘Friends In Low Places‘. I don’t know about you dear reader, but I’m always a tad apprehensive when I’m about to listen to a favourite band’s latest offering. Will it still be to my taste or will it have veered off to Melo Shoegaze Folk or one of the other bollocks genres that keep getting touted.

Well a sigh of relief as it were as Palace Of The King deliver more of the same. That same foot-tapping Hammond soaked bluesy sound with some of the dirtiest guitar riffs of the year!

Favourite tracks are the funky ‘A Run For Your Money‘, the lowdown ‘Get Right With Your Maker‘, which was actually the title of their 2018 release, ‘I’m Sorry Blues‘ with it’s dirty guitar that’s loaded with attitude, and the harmonica & Hammond laden album closer ‘Dead End Blues‘. Having said that, there ain’t no filler on ‘Friends In Low Places‘.

I must mention the excellent production on the album by lead singer Tim Henwood, The sound quality is in the words of Bill & Ted – most excellent!

If you’re already a fan of Palace Of The King then undoubtably you will  have already pre-ordered/ saved ‘Friends In Low Places‘. If you’re new to the band then get yourself a copy and take a listen to Australia’s premier NWOCR band. You won’t be disappointed!

The band are heading out on the road to support the album launch with five Australian dates. Fingers crossed they head over to Blighty as the band will fit into the current music scene an absolute treat.

Tracklist:

01 Children OF The Evolution

02 A Run For Your Money

03 Friends In Low Places

04 Get Right With Your Maker

05 Down On Your Luck

06 Tell It Like It Is

07 I’m Sorry Blues

08 Tear It Down

09 One Of Therse Days

10 Dead End Blues