Review: Ricky Warwick – Blood Ties

Earache Records (March 11^th, 2025)

Reviewer: Phil Rozier

At the tail end of 2024, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to review The Almighty at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Having grown up being an All-Fucking-Mighty fan, but never able to see them in their infancy, I felt I missed out. So seeing Ricky and the boys in 2024, sounding as fresh as morning bird song (if birds sung heavy metal music at 6am!), I felt I had made up for lost time.

Ever youthful in appearance and sound, Warwick‘s voice and stage presence captivated the entire sold out audience. You know an artist leaves a good impression when you leave the venue with that ‘high on guitar’ feeling of, ‘I wished I’d seen them before’. Instead of FOMO, I think I suffered from AMO – ‘Already missed out’. But, of course, balance that with ‘BALINST’ – ‘But at least I’ve now seen them’ (don’t worry, BALINST will never take off as a phrase!)

So, roll forward just a few long dark months of winter, and I’m now being given yet another wonderful opportunity, to sit and listen to some real rock royalty, blasting out his expressive solo works. And, I’ve also realised that this new project also includes some team efforts with the likes of Billy Duffy, Lita Ford and one of my personal favs, the most awesome front man, Charlie Starr.

So, afternoon off work, tea in hand, 2 choc hob nobs at the ready. I’ve cranked the stereo, and I’m sitting square in the middle of the Dolby Atmos zone, awaiting my brain to translate the kinetic energy of sound waves into glorious heart felt rock and roll!

Let’s press play!

So as ‘Angels of Desolation‘ kicks off, it’s signatory Warwick from the first note. Think The Almighty, imagine his work with Thin Lizzy, and hear the Black Star Riders, and, yup, that’s Ricky Warwick!!  I’m already singing the chorus….  ‘’Whooooaahhhhh…. I’m on the road to rack and ruin… ooooaaaahhh I’m on the path to self destruct…’’.  Aren’t we all Mr Warwick, despite sounding rather sensible with my tea and biscuit combo.

Track 2, enter Charlie Starr! ‘Rise and Grind‘. A mild distorted bass opens the track followed by perhaps a surprising Guns n Roses esque guitar groove. I’m loving it! I actually am somewhat surprised. It’s far heavier sounding than what I assumed a Charlie Starr influenced collaboration would be. And yet, during the melodic verse, there’s defo a sense of Blackberry Smoke southern twang and groove in there. This track is full of mixture, from Warwick Irish heritage, to British Metal to US swagger. What a belter.

‘Don’t Leave Me in the Dark‘ has the beautiful accompaniment of Lita Ford’s angelic yet gritty rock n roll voice.  Up beat, soft, yet snappy, this song carries vibes of some of the acoustic Lizzy work. Almost reminiscent of some Bryan Adam’s past collaborations with female vocalists. It’s cute, toe tapping rock n roll for a sunny afternoon somewhere.

Track 4 is why Warwick was so right for the Thin Lizzy gig. Or is it that Track 4, ‘The Crickets Stayed in Clovis‘, is why Thin Lizzy’s vocal void was so suited to Ricky and his punchy rasp!  Some years ago, I lived in Brighton, UK, and often use to frequent a decent Irish bar, The Fiddlers Elbow. Often, the live music played would be of true Irish origin, and one thing you could always guarantee was a loud, fun, punchy, almost comical vibe to the joy of the bands.  With smiling faces, loud guitars and happy bands, it was a total pleasure to go and be part of the atmosphere that made the evenings go into the early hours. Ricky Warwick’s solo work so far on the new album ‘Blood Ties‘, is just taking me to live music venues, where crowd and band are aligned with having fun, rocking out, and just enjoying the beauty of music.

‘Don’t Sell Your Soul to Fall in Love‘ is track 6. Actually, no it’s not. It’s track 5. I’m losing the plot again! Slightly slower in tempo, and cleaner in sound, this jangly sounding Stratocaster of a tune (shoot me down if I’m wrong, but take a listen, you’ll get it!), is a great track for just letting the world go by. It isn’t keeping me focused on the lyrics, and I probably couldn’t tell you what the song is about, but sometimes, who cares!? I like a silence filler, something to keep the day going and the mood uplifted. This song fills that brief, and keeps me wanting more as the track draws to a close. Intrigued by the not necessarily predictable album, I’m excited to hear track 6.

‘Dead and Gone‘ starts by firstly, making me jump! Ginger Jesus is the words uttered by the angry Scotsman!  I’m sure some aficionado’s out there know exactly who the voice belongs to, but, by the intense sound of it, I’m not sure I wanna know! You can keep your Iron Brew!! (Don’t worry, its a reference to the vocal taunts before you cause a scene!). A somewhat morbid factual statement, as it isn’t common to be Dead and Not Gone (although some say it’s possible). But, the track is as upbeat as ever and will a great live number. The beating percussion keeps the pace moving, well, at pace!

So, here comes Billy Duffy and Ricky Warwick together, belting out ‘The Hell of Me and You’.  Instant class rock. Clean drums, not trying to over complicate the structure, overlaid with palm muting chugging moving up the fret board. Nicely done! If it ain’t broke, don’t rewrite it and try to be something you’re not. This is a great rock track. Keep it simple, keep it coming!

Pausing to refresh the brew, we’re heading into the last 3 tracks of the 10 track record. Whilst ‘The Hell of Me and You‘ concludes with the repeat of the title lyrics, I’m waiting with anticipation of ‘Crocodile Tears‘ and track 8 (‘Crocodile Tears‘ is the track title by the way, I’m not actually crying with insincere tears).

One should never judge anything really, before they’ve experienced it. Make sense right? How could you form an opinion on anything you have no experience of? Well, I found myself falling into that trap purely because of a song title. It turns out ‘Crocodile Tears‘ is another great solid rock track. Straight forward beats, more chugging guitars and higher key chorus sing along vocals. You can’t help but enjoy the track. It’s a real steering wheel tapper for a summers day.

So with ‘Wishing Your Life Away‘ still keeping me bopping along in the living room, I need to start drawing a conclusion to the thoughts of the album. Without wanting to peak too soon, unless Track 10, ‘The Town That Didn’t Stare‘ is a country mile off the preceding 9 tracks, this album is about enjoying music, being happy and looking to a positive future. The uplifting collaborations that Warwick has bought to the party, and it feels like a party, have been well suited. Punchy, upbeat, party vibes, with a happy sense of pace and innocence to the album.

I like the darker heavier side that rock and roll can bring, but, considering the suns shinning, spring isn’t far away, this ‘Blood Ties‘ album isn’t perhaps as medically challenging as it sounds!  Straight forward, crowd pleasing, inoffensive to the ear, loud rock and roll.  It has shades of The Almighty, colours of Black Star Riders, and some of the Irish swagger of Thin Lizzy. This is Warwick doing what he does best. Being himself and playing what I can only imagine brings him the joy and the release from life that is the gift of music.

Tracklist:

1. Angels Of Desolation
2. Rise and Grind (Feat. Charlie Starr)
3. Don’t Leave Me in the Dark (feat. Lita Ford)
4. The Crickets Stayed In Clovis
5. Don’t Sell Your Soul to Fall in Love
6. Dead and Gone
7. The Hell of Me and You (feat. Billy Duffy)
8. Crocodile Tears
9. Wishing Your Life Away
10. The Town That Didn’t Stare

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