King King - Maverick album review

King King - Maverick

Album review by; The Dark Cookie

Maverick is the 5th Studio album from KING KING, the follow up the excellent Exile and Grace form 2017. There has been a fair amount of water under the bridge since that album, namely personnel changes giving the band a completely new rhythm section, record company changes, and then the global pandemic stuck its spanner in the works, delaying both the release of this fine collection and decimating the bands life-blood, and the place they excel, live concerts, with all their touring commitments pushed back, and some pushed back again, it’s a testament to the band we get to listen to this album at all.

And although for me at least, the album is a grower not a shower, it needed multiple listens for me to really get it.

At first listen I thought the album had lost its balls, the heavier edge cultivated on Exile was missing, and too be honest it isn’t, BUT if it has lost its balls it has grown a whole lot of soul.

And this is the point, the album is indeed a lighter shade of blue than past experiences, but what we get instead is a positive, upbeat, soulful, even at times funky, life-affirming set of songs, which lets be honest at this time when 2020 has been a downer for most of us, who doesn’t need a bit o positivity.

From “Never Give In” at the start to “End Of The Line” at, well the end of the line there is a real positive vibe.

The aforementioned “Never Give In” is probably the closest in style to the KING KING that has come before. “Fire In My Soul”follows and is a bouncy upbeat tune, and the first that, to me at least where you start to feel the various keys of Mr. Dyke are certainly more prominent. OK there is a typically blistering solo from Mr. Nimmo, but here, and for me one of the key reasons for the album’s lighter and soulful feel is the keyboards being more to the front.

“Whatever It Takes To survive” is a slower paced song which still has a positive vibe. Bordering on the mellowdramatic, but not teetering over, and again sublime soloing.

“I Will Not Fall” and “Dance Together” are funky baby! The keyboards veritably strut through the tracks powered on by a beat that will get you up and dancing.

Of the real ballads on the album the one that works less well for me is “By Your Side”. Odd to say I know because it is a great song, but to me it is a bit poppy in it delivery. I suspect it could however, slowed down and with the Hammond up and an extended guitar solo (or solos); this could be a live favorite.

However “When My Winter Comes” is about as perfect and powerful, yet gentle, heart felt song as you will hear. And again I cannot wait to here this live.

So as I said, this is not an immediate album, which is its strength not a weakness, and I can see this being an album I will happily play again and again, uplifting in the cold winter months, and enough groove for the summer parties and festivals we all hope for next year.

4.5 out of 5

Track listing;
1. Never Give In

2. Fire In My Soul

3. Whatever It Takes To survive

4. I Will Not Fall

5. By Your Side

6. One World

7. Everything Will Be Alright

8. When My Winter Comes

9. Dance Together

10. End Of The Line

King King are;