Artist; Warrior Soul
Album; Cocaine and other Good Stuff
Release Date; 13th November 2020
Album review by; Nick
When a band releases an album of cover versions, they can usually be haphazard depending on how they are structured. With Warrior Soul, I wanted to hear their album with an open mind; they felt the need given the circumstances of 2020 to do a fun record amidst all the doom and gloom. I do not know much about the band themselves, but from what I have heard from them I like. I found this album an easy listen as knowing every song already and enjoyable I did not get bored once.
The album was recorded through various locations around the world to reflect the mood of each track and they really pull this off well… recorded in;
Edinburgh, Scotland
Newcastle, England
Copenhagen, Denmar
Los Angeles, California
New York
Chicago, Illinois
Detroit, Michigan
Sheffield, England
and Costa Blanca, Torrevieja, Spain; in various home studios.
The album opens with the Cars song Let the Good Times Roll, and I was a little big taken aback by Kory Clark’s vocals in the beginning expecting a new wave approach to the song. I did however get used to this quite quickly and loved the way the band put their own twist on the track without straying too far away from the 1978 original. The Next song on the album is the title track, Cocaine originally written and performed by JJ Cale, famously covered by Eric Clapton and Nazareth, respectively. This track is where I start to appreciate Kory’s vocals for what they are and his voice suits the song perfectly, I draw comparisons to ex Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty and their version of the song crossed between Clapton’s, with Warrior Soul providing a nice blending of the two versions with their take on the song.
The next song is a blistering cover of Crosstown Traffic by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, a true foot tapper and again respecting the original, you cannot fault their skill taking on a Jimi Hendrix tune and it really shows here. Their take on a couple of KISS songs from the first album, Firehouse and Cold Gin. I like to think are even better than the original versions, I’m not a very massive KISS fan so any version of their songs from other bands I always maintain an interest in. Cold Gin was recorded for charity in aid of cancer research. Legendary rock photographer Alex Ruffini’s favourite band was KISS and his brother contacted them requesting a cover of the song.
The next track was an amazing cover of the Van Halen scorcher DOA, this one sent chills down my spine given the circumstances of Edward van Halen’s passing in recent times. It felt so refreshing hearing a new version of the song and it is such a fitting tribute to the late great Eddie. The original version is a barn burner and this one just as special. I am really impressed with Warrior Soul on their takes on each cover song. Up next is the single from the album, Alice Cooper’s Elected. A fantastic fun version which also relates to our current times with a tongue in cheekiness from the lads. A blistering version of the Alice Cooper classic.
Motorhead’s Outlaw is a thunderous track which the band truly put their own twist on it and make it their own. The main ingredient again is Kory’s vocals, quite different to Lemmy’s voice yet if Motorhead ever had another lead singer; Kory would truly fit the bill. It’s hard, it’s heavy and I find it an interesting take on that they went for a more recent Motorhead song rather than go for one of their classic tracks, easily my favourite song on the album.
The other track that stands out on the album is a cover of KC and the Sunshine band’s Get Down Tonight. I really like this one as it is the only non-rock cover on the album. But I feel with every cover album there needs to be a rock version of a non-rock song, and the band really sound like they are having fun here. It’s a vibrant song, and the band really play their hearts out, achieving their goal of giving the listener a good distraction from current affairs and a good time also by recording a perfect slice of rock n roll party with this song.
The penultimate song on the album is a driving cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s We’re an American Band. I personally think any American rock band should do a cover of this song and Warrior Soul serve up a blazing rocking version, delivering the perfect road song. The album concludes with the mighty Judas Priest’s Living After Midnight and like the KISS songs, I really enjoyed this version more so than the original, the band drive through the song, once again making it their own concluding the album in style.
I have really enjoyed this album; Cocaine and Other Good Stuff is 11 songs of pure party rock n roll with songs that you are already familiar with. There is something for everybody here and even though being a covers album it will not change the course of musical history; it is a stunning piece of rock, nonetheless.
Album Rating – 4/5