Review: Maverick – Silver Tongue
Metalopolis Records (July 5th, 2024)
Reviewer: Grant Foster
I first encountered Maverick on their ‘Ethereality‘ album and filed them away under ‘Must keep an ear and eye on them’ for any future releases.
The Belfast based band’s fifth album, ‘Silver Tongue‘ sees the return of the original line-up.
And it shows. The synergy of the material benefits immensely from the reunification.
Maverick are undoubtedly a modern hard rock band, but, I keep getting drawn back to the late 80’s feel of Skid Row, Tesla, Shotgun Messiah etc.
The harder edged rock delivery is balanced with having singalong choruses, but they aren’t sweetly sick. You can still yell, stomp and throw yourself about to these songs!
The opener ‘Puppet Show‘, is a statement of intent and sets the tone. ‘Bloody Mary‘ is a favourite. Great chorus and an excuse to crack out the vodka and tomato juice to salute it!
Vocalist Dave Balfour has an impressive set of pipes, but thankfully doesn’t over sing at any point, even on an impressive cover of ‘We All Die Young‘, that featured in the movie, Rockstar.
Guitarists Ryan Balfour and Ric Cardwell, likewise don’t overplay and weave interesting shapes that bring back the halcyon days of the Sunset Strip, without parody.
Bassist Richie Diver gets that unmistakeable bass rumble, it must be a Musicman, surely?! and drummer Mike Ross keeps things pinned down and no histrionics.
Yet you feel there’s more to Maverick. Yes, I’m happy that, unlike a lot of their competitors, they haven’t disappeared into Nickelback or Black Stone Cherry territory.
What you have here is a romper stomper of an album that on every listen unearths something a little different for you to enjoy.
So do just that. Enjoy it.
Maverick are ready, believe me.
Tracklist:
CD:
1. Puppet Show
2. Sweet Surrender
3. Daywalker
4. Lorelei
5. Halfway to Heaven
6. Evenfall
7. Bloody Mary
8. Time
9. Hideaway
10. Do or Die
11. Cheyenne
12. We All Die Young
Vinyl:
1. Puppet Show
2. Sweet Surrender
3. Daywalker
4. Halfway to Heaven
5. Evenfall
6. Time
7. Bloody Mary
8. Lorelei
9. Hideaway
10. Do or Die
11. Cheyenne
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