If you’ve ever had the dubious pleasure of bumping into me, whilst my age is apparent, what is not immediately obvious is that my education was quite posh, well, as posh as you could manage living in Manchester in the 80’s and not boarding. One element was mandatory Latin, which meant I could translate the title of the new Duel album ‘In Carne Persona’ as ‘In the flesh person’, or even potentially ‘Fleshy Person’. Hmm, maybe the latter could be that the band members I’ve previously met have remembered me and decided to name their new release after me? Unlikely, so enough of my rambling, and time to get reviewing.
For those who are unfamiliar with Duel, well, you’ve been missing out on some solid seventies inspired heavy rock, this being the fourth studio album they’ve released through the ever growing Heavy Psych Sounds label, and one that stacks up to their very best material. Starting with what is becoming a near mandatory sound bite of what must be a seventies horror movie that I’ve been wracking my brains to identify (if I start to lose sleep it will be time to get googling!) ‘Children of the Fire’ sets the tone for the album, Messrs Frank and Henson launching into some twin guitar harmonising that will have every Thin Lizzy fan grinning and punching the air, whilst their brothers in rhythm Shaun Avants and Justin Collins bring the thunder. Honestly, if this tune doesn’t at the very least have your foot tapping, I think you may need to check whether you still have a pulse. ‘The Veil’ shimmies forth next with a darker, more sinister tone to the riffs, albeit laced through with utterly seductive beats that lead to a hook laden chant along chorus that should make this a live standard for the band. ‘Anchor’ ups the pace, with the bass matching the two guitars for dominance, refusing to be lost in the mix or being relegated to a supporting role; damn I know that I’ve alluded to the late lamented Phil Lynott before, but it does sometimes feel that Mr Avants had taken some of his inspiration from that much revered forebear.
Continuing their apparent quest to summon forth the music of the seventies, Duel let loose their inner hippy spirit with the opening of ‘Behind the Sound’, an altogether more mellow number than what went before, but with more than enough rocking oomph to satisfy those who want to give their neck a good workout. Hell, if a bit of exercise is what you’re looking for, try and keep up with the galloping beat of follow up ‘Bite Back’, and if you’re feeling particularly fit, let the groove of ‘Wave of your Hand’ keep you dancing. ‘Dead Eyes’ is steeped through with proto-metal goodness, hearkening to the age where hard rock and metal were interchangeable and not yet competing and pigeon-holed subgenres, a feeling continued in ‘Lizard Tongue’. If my praises not yet enough to convince you to part with your hard earned, let me commend to you album closer ‘Blood on the Claw’ where Duel go all Led Zep, opening the track gently, and then building it up layer by layer into a nuanced rock anthem, some slide being added to the wall of guitar sound, interspersed with lighter, psychedelic moments.
There is a danger that by being so heavily influenced by classic seventies music, a band could sound derivative and unoriginal. However, such is the skill in terms of playing, and writing, that whilst hints of other legendary bands can be heard throughout ‘In Carne Persona’, instead Duel pay a respectful homage to their musical ancestors, whilst imbuing the music with their own personality and energy. This offering from the band is loaded to the gunnels with tracks that just demand to be experienced live, but until that happy day, let me commend the album to you.
(8.5/10 Spenny)
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