"Born In The Ashes" is Albany Down's new blues-rock album

Albany Down have a new album, Born In The Ashes out on September 1st, and they will be hoping that like the Phoenix of mythology it signals a renewal and rebirth. Indeed, those are the subject matter of much of the album’s lyrics, penned by founder member, vocalist and guitarist Paul Turley.
He’s seen a few changes since the band made quite an impression with their debut album South Of The City back in 2011. This was followed in 2013 with Not Over Yet, and 2016’s The Outer Reach release. Now, after changes of personal down the years and having endured the tribulations of lockdown Paul is back with Ben Atkins on bass and drummer Pete Hancock.

Albany Down have again linked up with go to producer Greg Haver at Rockfield Studios and be­tween them they have conjured up a first-rate Blues Rock album. Vocalist/guitarist Paul Turley is joined by Ben Atkins (bass) and Peter Hancock(drums) in bringing to life a collection of songs about overcom­ing adversity mostly written during the dark days of lockdown. Always Want What You Can’t Have is a kick ass opener with some spikey guitar playing from Paul as he lays bare the unfairness of the music business and relationships in general. Good News is next and carries through the mainstream rock vibe in a very catchy way.

Some excellent use of horns on Same Damn Thing gives the track a real Motown feel and brings some super variation to what's gone before, despite the lyric being about the repetitiveness of being caught in a rut. Paul shows his versatility as a songwriter with the reflective six-minute ballad about the passing of time and life’s changes The Memory Of What Used To Be. Special mention for the wonderful backing vocals provided by Cat Wyn Southall and the sympathetic production by Greg Haver. 

This is sure to fast become a live favourite. Darkest Day finds the band continuing to rock out whilst re-it-erating the theme of moving forwards with renewed vigour and positivity. Things get rocked up again with Reflections, a dirty bluesy look back at making wrong decisions, with more than a hint of Hendrix running through it.

The fast paced Don't Look Back takes us on a high-energy one-way trip that there's no returning from that leads us nicely into I'll Come Running, an upbeat feel-good song with more first-class brass provided by New Zealand’s Uppercut Horns. Your Days Are Numbered has a bad attitude crunchy guitar opening perfect for a tale of ending a bad relationship of some kind inspired by the corruption of those in positions of power.

The penultimate song is another heart felt ballad called Heavy Soul. It’s a message of hope and posi­tivity for those feeling overwhelmed complemented brilliantly by The Vulcan Strings and the Bedford Friends Choir. Final track Let Your Love Shine ends things in an upbeat feel-good way and is the perfect finale to what is a quality rock album with blues undercurrents running through.