NEWS: Damon Johnson announces Pledge campaign for new solo album Memoirs Of An Uprising

Damon Johnson has announced a Pledge Campaign for his forthcoming new solo album 'Memoirs Of An Uprising'. The album will receive a full release later in 2018.

The forthcoming album features ten brand new songs from Damon – and he is currently finishing the mixing, mastering and packaging around the album.

The album will be available on both CD and vinyl and the Pledge site features a whole host of very special options including signed CDs, merch, mystery bundles, guitar lessons, signed guitars, acoustic house performances and even a round of golf with Damon amongst others..

Full details here: https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/damonjohnson

Damon said, “The fact that I’m getting to make this album at all is purely down to the support and love you all have shown for my music over the past three decades.

"And, as I discussed this fact with PledgeMusic, they have encouraged me to “un-earth” and make available one-of-a-kind items during this campaign…things like bundles of exclusive photos and memorabilia from all my various band endeavors; my small Peavy practice amp that I’ve written songs on ever since Brother Cane’s ‘Seeds’ album; a “still-in-the-shrink-wrap” copy of my long time out-of-print ‘Dust’ CD; even autographed guitars…and much more.

"Again, this is the first time for me to work with PledgeMusic as a solo artist. And the catalyst is absolutely this new music I’ve created. The songs are inspired and my band (Tony, Jarred & Tony) played and sound amazing as always. And I feel these songs deserve as much exposure as possible, even in this day and age where the business of making and distributing music has change dramatically.

"I’m asking for your help. I need your help! I’m at LEAST asking you to check it out what we’re offering through this PledgeMusic campaign.”

The album will then receive a full UK release later in 2018.

Damon will be conclude his UK and Europe tour in 2018 with band mate Ricky Warwick at Belfast's Limelight2 in October 15th.

The two will be playing acoustic numbers throughout their two illustrious careers as well as speaking about their experiences in music.

NEWS: Black Star Riders re-sign with Nuclear Blast ahead of Warwick/Johnson Diamond show and Ramblin Man slot

Well - as you should know by now Black Star Riders' duo Ricky Warwkick and Damon Johnson are playing the Diamond Rock Club in Ahoghill on July 5th, and BSR will then have a series of shows including a main stage slot at Ramblin Man Fair.

Seems that it is a busy time for the guys on and off stage as they have announced a new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
 Back in 2012, Black Star Riders signed their first contract with Nuclear Blast Entertainment in the same year. Under the banner of the independent label, the band released three critically acclaimed albums: “All Hell Breaks Loose”, “The Killer Instinct” and “Heavy Fire”. [We can say that as we liked 'em too.]

Black Star Riders latest album “Heavy Fire” gained worldwide success reaching: #6 UK in the National chart, #11 in the German National chart, #91 in the USA Current Top Albums.

The band had the following to say about re-signing to Nuclear Blast Entertainment:

“Nuclear Blast have been there since the inception of Black Star Riders...believing in the band and most importantly the songs...after three very successful albums it's a no brainer for the band to stay where we belong.” – Ricky Warwick

 “NBE are one of the best labels I have ever worked with.  I am thrilled to continue Black Star Riders relationship with this great group of people!” – Scott Gorham

"What a pleasure working with the entire team at Nuclear Blast over the past five years. We look forward to the next five and beyond." – Damon Johnson

"So thankful to be apart of the Nuclear Blast family! Looking forward to our future together." – Robert Crane

ALBUM REVIEW: Maturity achieved by Black Star Riders on release number three, Heavy Fire

THE third album for newish acts is when the heady air of being in a new band has faded and its time to see whether you've gotten over the 'difficult' second album. But what about if you are an experienced group of musos, with a lengthy track record. What does LP #3 mean then?

With a festival tour under the banner of Thin Lizzy last year album number three couldn't have come soon enough for Black Star Riders as an entity in its own right, and 'Heavy Fire' is the release them from the shadows of Lizzy, The Almighty et al.

There is still a vague hint of Lizzy's legacy in places here, but this - as great as 'All Hell Breaks Loose' and 'The Killer Instinct were - is when any tags, any wondering at the band's longevity can be cast aside and Black Star Riders mount their steeds and the hoof beats thunder.

In songwriting terms this a complete set of 10-songs that are true and walk through your speakers with a confidence, and a sure swagger that establishes itself from the off with the title track 'Heavy Fire', which with its slowed down mid-section takes a listen or two before it clicks.

'When The Night Comes In' is perhaps the track with the most similarity to Lizzy, but the rest of the album is BSR through and through. Any shackles that may have held them back in other people's perception are thorn off and this is a band that kicks you firmly in the aural tract.

Scott Gorham adds the licks and Damon Johnson and Ricky Warwick serious amount of riffage. One senses that after Warwick and Johnson toured with a couple of acoustics and Warwick played on hi Fighting Hearts tour there were a collection of songs to bring to the collective BSR stable for completion. Something Warwick seems to confirm in the blurb accompanying the album.

“I had the album title almost a year before we started recording,” he aid, “and it refers to the fact that there’s so much going on in the world right now, and we’re bombarded constantly with information and technology designed to make our lives better and easier, but yet we don’t really have a clue where we’re going as a species. It’s kinda asking about how we deal with all that, how we negotiate our own paths in these sometimes dark and dangerous times.”

However they arrived at the songs they surge from your speakers. There are huge choruses, interesting arrangements and a wee surprise in the shape of the wonderfully balanced, laid back 'Cold War Love'.

Warwick's gift of the gab in weaving tales is on display, whether they are deceptive tracks about romance and lust ('Dancing With The Wrong Girl'), disgust at the lack of gun control in the USA ('Who Rides The Tiger') or warning relatives about their path ('Ticket To Rise) the storytelling matches each musical arrangement.

What makes this the band's strongest outing is the breathing space within each track. When  producer Nick Raskulinecz sat the band down in the studio in Franklin, Tennessee his ear and the band's collective experiene melded, with Robbie Crane and Jimmy DeGrasso making sure that the rhythm section doesn't allow itself to run away no matter how fasrt-paced the tracks.

When the album closes with the up-tempo 'Letting Go Of Me' such is the strength of the 10-tracks that clicking 'repeat' comes naturally.

Black Star Riders have produced a superb album, but as Johnson says it will be the fans who will decide if it matches their previous outings.#

“I think it’s the most solid piece of work that we’ve done,” he said. “Do we have songs on this album better than 'Blindsided', better than 'The Killer Instinct', better than 'Finest Hour'? I think so, but beyond that I think that our audience is going to recognise this as a complete work from top to bottom. We’ve grown as songwriters, we’ve grown as musicians, and I think you can hear that in the record we’ve made.”

That growth is apparent, mature measured and ready to take on the rock world. And, with an increasing collection of Black Star Rider's songs perhaps live there won't be such a reliance on Thin Lizzy tracks...

Review by Jonathan Traynor

Heavy Fire is out Nuclear Blast on February 7th

ALBUM REVIEW: Black Star Riders beginning to establish their own identity on The Killer Instinct

THE Black Star Riders are to many an enigma. Emerging from the ashes of Thin Lizzy's dying embers, their last album 'All Hell Breaks Loose' there was a definite whiff of compromise between the Lizzy template and Ricky Warwick's powerful influence.

Certainly some hardcore Lizzy devotees (including our contributor Baal) found the whole thing distasteful, but it was, if nothing else, a bridge between the past and the present.

The latest album, 'The Killer Instinct' sees Black Star Riders move on from that 'bridging' period; and while Scott Gorham's guitar work still harkens back to Lizzy, Warwick can now be see to be influencing the way forward.

Album opener and title track 'The Killer Instinct' has a Lizzy cover version feel, only salvaged by the lyrics, but 'Bullet Blues' sees the band adopt a contemporary hard rock sound.

Certainly  evident is that Warwick and Damon Johnson are taking on the bulk of song writing chores.

A defining moment on the album is the fourth track, 'Soldierstown', which sees Warwick's personal observations of Belfast married with a Celtic vibe that simply portrays a vision of despair.

But, there are flaws on this release. 'Charlie I Gotta Go' at times seems lazy, only redeemed by the pre-chorus and the solos.

However, following that is the six-minute 'Blindsided'. Balladic, with bathos and pathos in equal measure. One word - beautiful.

The flawed but enjoyable 'Through the Motions' opens with a riff that seems to be going...well through the motions, but the tune develops and grows, especially at the concluding bridges.

And, in terms of bridges, 'Turn in Your Arms' muscular riffs and solos showcase the transition between an ex-Lizzy sound and hard rock as it sounds in the 21st Century.

Closer is a seven minute plus semi-epic in the shape of 'You Little Liar', which to be honest seems to be a song that will only evolve in the live environment.

Stepping back to take an objective approach - as opposed to the subjective fan of Lizzy and The Almighty - what Black Star Riders have accomplished is a significant step towards their own identity.

With the evident growing writing influence of Warwick and Johnson one can only hope that with this and subsequent releases they will have less need to cover Lizzy on stage and can be recognised for their achievement rather than rely on legacy.

The Killer Instinct is available now on Nuclear Blast.

Review by Jonny