Review: The Heavy Souls – Have You Got Soul
TMR Rock Records (January 31st, 2025)
Reviewer: Grant Foster
I’d never heard of this band, but took on the job of reviewing this, their debut album, on hearing a snippet of ‘Sleepwalking‘, one of the tracks that appears on this album.
They hail from Sheffield and describe themselves as taking inspiration from the ‘’giants of rock and blues’’.
Straight off the bat, you sense that The Heavy Souls aren’t mucking about. The title track asks the questions, ‘’Have you got blues, have you got soul?‘’ It’s a powerful opening gambit.
This ten track debut has two obvious strengths. The rhythms have grooves a mile wide. It’s infectious in a heavier blues way. The second is singer Clarke Vaughan, who possesses the pipes to lift the melodies above those grooves.
There’s hints of Free, but a supercharged version, on ‘She Devil‘.
The guitar riffs supplied by Ben Boswell are heavy, but accessible. ‘Rise and Fall‘ is a really good example of this. The chorus and verses weave over an almost psychedelic backing.
The sonics are impressive too. Produced, mixed and mastered by Martin Gregory Smith, it’s clear, punchy and strong.
I’m not forgetting bassist Ryan Jones and drummer Charlie Morris, who are all over this album in terms of underpinning it. Every house needs the strongest of foundations, right?!
‘Sleepwalking‘ starts with a chant and takes on a mystical groove, begging us to ‘’wake me up, I’m Sleepwalking’’. It’s almost hypnotic.
What’s good about the song-writing is the lads don’t over clutter. There is space which allows the sound and vocals to breathe. Ben’s lead work benefits from this and he’s no slouch on the fretboard both in rhythm and lead work.
‘She Said‘ boasts a staccato guitar riff and a singalong chorus yet without a hint of any pop irony. And where the guitar solo should be is a wash of harmonics. Seriously. Yet it works because it fits where it touches. I can hear it on Planet Rock.
The guys name check QOTSA and Rival Sons in their bio, but THS have a different depth and soundscape. ‘Caught In Your Spell‘ has a melodic chorus that works with a heavy riff and the guitar tone and sound really pins this tune.
The last two tracks are grinders. In a good way.
‘The River‘ is the closest the band come to early Sabbath for me. Pulsing, throbbing, like a German porn movie.
They asked the question, ‘Have You Got Soul‘
Well, what they do have is rock, blues, a groove, and a damned fine debut album under their belts.
Track listing:
1. Have You Got Soul
2. She Devil
3. Rise And Fall
4. Sleepwalking
5. The Abyss
6. She Said
7. Broken
8. Caught In Your Spell
9. Prey
10. The River
Deluxe CD Bonus tracks
Walk On Water (Bonus)
Sweet Tooth (Bonus)
Broken Woman (Bonus)
Line-up:
Clark Vaughan – vocals
Ben Boswell – guitars
Ryan Jones – bass
Charlie Morris – drums
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