‘Collateral’
Next month Collateral release their Eponymous debut album. A real hard rock, future classic with a dash of country thrown in for good measure. Collateral have been making serious waves over the past five years or so and lead singer Angelo Tristan along with guitarist Todd Winger, Bassist Jack Bentley-Smith and drummer Ben Atkinson make up the band.
I first heard this album a few months ago now and it has been on repeat ever since. It is an absolute belter, opening up with Mr. Big Shot, this could be an eighties rock anthem. It has all the ingredients the crunchy guitar riff and great vocals too from Angelo. What a great way to open an album, its loud, obnoxious and pure rock and roll! Believe me, this song is destined to be played in a massive arena somewhere in front of 80 thousand adoring fans. It really does have that potential. Collateral have kicked things off brilliantly and smacked you square in the teeth with this first track.
‘Promiseland’ is up next. This, again is a nod to the eighties. Cue more crunchy guitar and a very nice guitar solo too. Echoes of Bon Jovi here, but with a much sharper edge. I really like this track and again it just really grabs you and doesn’t let you go. This is a band that really have something to say as well, ‘Promiseland’ in particular commenting about the current state of the music business. This is a song everyone needs to hear!
We edge into country rock territory for the next track, ‘Merry Go Round’. The song talks about the troubles and difficulties of life and the fact that we all have to pull on through. Lyrically, the song is great too. What a great track and it is completely different to the first two tracks. A completely uplifting song with a “we’re all in this together” sentiment. I love the guitar work in this one too and again, Angerlo’s vocals are well and truly on point!
The album continues rocking on through and then slows down significantly for Collateral’s ‘Always’. ‘Get Back to You’ is a song about a longing for home. This is a lighters in the air moment and a must for live shows. Slow, powerful and heartfelt, this is one of the highlights of the album for me. I absolutely love the song. What a great piece of music too, with great guitar work running through to the end.
The pace is immediately picked up again for the next track, ‘Wont Stop Me Dreaming’. This again is another foot stomper and again, completely different to everything else on the album. This song I think has a universal appeal and perhaps is even mainsteam! Is this Collateral’s ticket into the mainstream, who knows, but what I can tell you is this song would be as equally at home on mainstream radio as it would on the likes of Planet Rock or Kerrang. I think I would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn’t like this song!
The album concludes with the self reflective track ‘About This Boy’, an autobiographical song and for me another album highlight. There is so much weight to the lyrics, they deliver such power. Truth is a most powerful thing.
What a mighty fine album. Lyrically its stunning as well. I am a musician and normally when I listen to an album I’m listening to the musical elements and whilst Collateral’s music is of course stunning, the lyrics are incredible and really made me listen and listen good. This album is an album you simply have to listen to and catch Collateral on the road later this year! They will deliver!
Released By: Roulette Media
Released on: 21st February
