Review: Grand Slam – Wheel Of Fortune
Silver Lining Music (June 7th 2024)
Reviewer: Peter Scallan
Grand Slam in terms of the name is real blast from the past. Led by founding member Laurence Archer, the band reformed and released an inaugural album in 2019, which was a mix of new and older material from the original Phil Lynott days in the mid-eighties. It is hard to believe that it is five years since the debut album.
The opening track is ‘There Goes My Heart‘. It opens the album with a classic Lizzy style twin guitar attack. The opener bounces along nicely telling the tale of a man and the love for his car. A spritely opener indeed! ‘Star Crossed Lovers‘ opens with a big vocal hook and then crashes into a pacey melodic rocker that shows that Grand Slam offer up more than just a Lynott-retro inspired sound. ‘Come Together (In Harlem)‘ is the only old Grand Slam song reworked from the originals written by Lynott and Archer. More of a driving rocker than the poppier original, the number drives along with Mike Dyer having the chops to really pull the vocal off. This song has been updated and sounds every bit as relevant and vibrant as the preceding songs. ‘Trail or Tears‘ opens with a superb riff before easing into a very Lizzy-esque twin-harmony that could have been off ‘Johnny the Fox’. However, that is where the Lizzy comparison ends as the chorus is a huge guitar chop and sounds very contemporary which almost phased/flanged sound. The guitar solo break is also quirky and off-beat. This song epitomises that Grand Slam have a helluva lot more to offer than retro take on the Lynott songbook. Further proof of this quickly follows with ‘Feeling is Strong‘ which opens like a melodic version of the Cult’s ‘Revolution’. The verse shuffles along and then breaks down into a catchy chorus. This song also highlights just how good a player Archer is as the solo is superlative!
‘Spitfire‘ opens the second half of the album, which in vinyl terms will be the opener of side two! This song has the hallmarks of a later-day Lizzy rocker and then some but with a much more contemporary feel and some further blistering guitar work and a catchy chanting chorus. The opening of ‘I Wanna Know!‘ Is poppy, subtle, and subdued and builds into a blasting rocker and has some great vocals and lyrics from Dyer. This is quickly followed by another fine example of pushing the Grand Slam envelope of sounds and moods with the quirkily titled ‘Pirate Song‘. For me, this song has elements of Extreme, Queen and Bon Jovi rolled into one! Opening with a bluesy acoustic guitar and groove-laden vocals before kicking into a mega guitar riff Brian May would be delighted with – easily the best song on the album – and worth getting the album just for this song! ‘Afterlife‘ is next up with an almost Tony Iommi picked guitar part swathed in chorus-style effect with drums, bass and vocals slowly working there way into the song and slowly building into the chorus and then dropping. It picks pace with double time break before going into a half-time break and back into the picking and building from there once again, including another great guitar solo. Last and by no means least, is the title track ‘Wheel of Fortune‘. Opening with some delicious acoustic guitar and vocals and builds into the first chorus before the bass and drums again grow into the song. The song kicks in spectacularly with the middle-eight preceding the guitar solo and works up to a suitable crescendo. A special note of praise for Dyer’s lyrics as they include just about every major catchphrase from 70s and 80s quiz shows – listening the lyrics had me laughing aloud and grinning from ear-to-ear!
What a superb album that nods nicely to the Phil Lynott heritage but clearly establishes a Grand Slam sound for the 21st century. I know that Lizzy fans tend to favour Black Star Riders (BSR) with Gorham connection, but for me offers something different from BSR. While it has some elements of Lizzy, the real nod to the heritage is that it has the variety, humour, and off-the-wall element that Lynott favoured but manages to create an original sound of its own. I am quite sure big Phil will be looking down with a huge smile on his face and laughing aloud the lyrics to ‘Wheel of Fortune‘, especially with the Price is right reference! Can’t wait to the band live!
Track Listing:
There Goes My Heart
Starcrossed Lovers
Come Together (In Harlem)
Trail Of Tears
Feeling Is Strong (Jo’s Song)
Spitfire
I Wanna Know!
Pirate Song
Afterlife
Wheel Of Fortune
Line-up:
Mike Dyer – vocals
Laurence Archer – guitars
Benjy Reid – drums
Rocky Newton – bass
ROCKPOSER DOT COM! 
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