Album Review: Cats in Space – Suit of Armour

Cherry Red Records – November 6^th, 2026

Reviewer – David Pearce

Cats in Space are back with their seventh studio album ‘Suit of Armour‘. Since I first saw them on the Rising Stage at the Ramblin’ Man Festival in Maidstone in 2016, the line-up has changed with three lead vocalists over the years and, for this album, two new guitarists. What hasn’t changed is their ambition to bring the rock of the 1970s up to date and do it brilliantly. The line-up today includes three founder members, Greg Hart on lead guitar, Steevi Bacon on drums and Andy Stewart on keyboards. Joining them are lead vocalist Damien Edwards, new bass guitarist Chris Childs and new lead guitarist Sam Wood. So, lets see what the Cats have in store for us this time.

The opening track is ‘The Miracle‘ which is also the lead single, a very 1970s concept! It starts with a marvellous guitar riff courtesy of Greg Hart and Sam Wood but as befits one of the finest lead vocalists in rock, Damien Edwards makes the track his own. It is a bravura performance of the type that Cats fans have become used to but which, I hope, we will never take for granted. Next is ‘We Breathe in Stereo‘ which perhaps references a later Slade track. The powerhouse drums of Steevi Bacon are to the fore in this track but they aren’t showy, just perfect for the track. He has always served the song so well throughout the seven Cats albums but his performance here is perhaps the epitome of his class and brilliance. Andy Stewart gives the track real depth with a fantastic keyboard part and shows how integral he is to the sound of the band.

‘White Knight‘ is the third track and also the third single. It’s a softer rock ballad in the vein of earlier Queen and Edwards puts in another great performance whilst Hart and Wood contribute a guitar part that Brian May himself would appreciate. ‘Never Big in Japan‘ is a wonderful knowing title, referencing both the Alphaville synth classic from the 1980s and also the phenomenon of an otherwise moderately successful artist having huge recognition outside of their home country. The opening riff puts me in mind of the glam rock of Mud but the song is a bass driven monster with Chris Childs making the track sound a bit like early Whitesnake to me. ‘Mister Showbiz‘ is a track that reflects on the idea of success in a similar way. Stewart channels Elton John with a beautiful piano on this song and Edwards puts in one of his best vocals on the album, and given the high standard that is his bassline that’s high praise instead. The final track on the first half of the album, the A side if you like, is the title track ‘Suit of Armour‘. It’s moody, atmospheric and intriguing at the start and it’s got the feeling of a Queen song once again, but it has that indefinable magic that only this band can provide. It’s a song where the six component parts gel perfectly and sound like they are almost developing organically. In its way it’s the epitome of Cats in Space.

The B Side of the album opens up with ‘Analogue Kid‘ and let’s face it, if you listen to this band you probably are at heart! It is a love letter to the 1970s with references to vinyl, FM and TV rays. It’s my favourite song on the album because it made me smile and gave me a warm feeling of familiarity. It’s just brilliant, it’s as simple as that. ‘The Bloodsucker’s Waltz‘ is a great title and probably sums up how most people view the world these days. Starting off with a subtle piano solo and then moving on to Edwards at his most reflective and regretful. It is a socially aware and sadly accurate song. ‘Don’t Spare the Horses‘ serves as the Cats’ mission statement, because they never knowingly leave anything to just trot along in the background. It is the sound of a group with confidence in their individual abilities and their collective sound and it is a masterpiece of song building. Julie ‘The Duchess’ Maguire gets a featured vocalist spot on this track and it gives the overall sound a very different vibe at that point, which is interesting. Perhaps it’s a path that they might follow in future albums.

‘Twenty Seven‘ starts the final three tracks, the tracks that are the most important on an album for me, because they dictate my overall reaction to it. It is also the second single from the album. It’s ever so 1970s in the best possible way and it features a breathtaking vocal from Edwards. It is a reference to the 27 club which has included so many rock stars and it’s elegiac and heartfelt. ‘Cathedral‘ is the penultimate track and once again the inclusion of the ethereal tones of Maguire gives it a really new and interesting vibe. It’s less than a minute long but it earns its place on the album as a moment that makes the listener sit up and take notice. The album closer is ‘From Time to Time‘. It’s another downbeat reflection on the state of the world and it’s delivered with real panache as ever by Damien Edwards.

The album as a whole is typically thought provoking, amusing and satisfying, but perhaps more than any of their previous six albums it requires concentration and repeat listening to really appreciate how good it is. There has never been a bad album from these rock legends and they prove once again that in the rock genre they are at the top of the tree and at the top of their game. It’s definitely time for festivals to take notice and put them at the top of their bills.

Track List:

1. Miracle
2. We Breathe in Stereo
3. White Knight
4. Never Big in Japan
5. Mister Showbiz
6. Suit of Armour
7. Analogue Kid
8. The Bloodsucker’s Waltz
9. Don’t Spare the Horses
10. Twenty-Seven

Bonus CD tracks:

1. Cathedral
2. From Time to Time

Web Links:

Official Website

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