{"id":42920,"date":"2014-07-24T06:41:15","date_gmt":"2014-07-24T11:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=42920"},"modified":"2014-07-24T06:41:15","modified_gmt":"2014-07-24T11:41:15","slug":"weapon-uk-rising-from-the-ashes-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/weapon-uk-rising-from-the-ashes-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Weapon (UK) | Rising from the Ashes<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by John Kindred<\/span>
\n– Publisher —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"weaponGuitarist Jeff Summers (Statetrooper) and vocalist Danny Hynes have revived their \u201880s NWOBHM band, Weapon. Officially known today as Weapon (UK), it seems another group had formed under the same name, and to stay away from any legal issues, UK was added to their moniker. The band released a single in the early \u201880s titled \u201cSet the Stage Alight,\u201d which is a song that inspired the musical direction of Metallica, before Virgin Records shelved the album in 1981. The band\u2019s debut titled Set the Stage Alight<\/em> finally officially saw the light of day in 2003. So, theoretically, after three decades, the band valiantly returns with its sophomore effort Rising from the Ashes<\/em>. <\/p>\n

After 30-plus years, Weapon (UK) returns to the scene older and wiser. While still firmly grounded within the confines of the NWOBHM genre, the music also leans toward traditional Hard Rock. The latest incarnation of the band features bassist PJ Phillips and drummer Ian Sweeting. <\/p>\n

Rising from the Ashes opens with an obligatory instrumental interlude titled \u201cPrelude (The Awakening),\u201d which sets the tone for album. <\/p>\n

After 30 years, one would be hard pressed to say that in such a saturated musical landscape, originality would reign supreme. In fact Weapon (UK) delivers riffs that recall some of metal\u2019s finer moments; \u201cBurning Skies\u201d aka Ozzy\u2019s \u201cOver the Mountain\u201d or \u201cAlamein\u201d reminds us of the Scorpions\u2019 \u201cWinds of Change.\u201d What removes Weapon (UK) from the hot seat is Danny Hynes\u2019 vocals. Hynes voice has a unique quality unlike his peers. Combining that with the lush background vocals helps to define the band\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n

The shifting contrast between the NWOBHM and Hard Rock genre breathe life into the 12-tracks that comprise Rising from the Ashes<\/em>. Summers\u2019 stamp is all over the songs, with crunching rhythms that are entwined with solos that pay homage to the Arena Rock giants of the \u201870s and \u201880s. The Weapon (UK) rhythm section isn\u2019t shy either as, both, Phillips and Sweeting leave their mark on each song.<\/p>\n

Except for the bonus track \u201cKiller Instinct,\u201d the band began writing new material in 2011, releasing \u201cReady 4 U\u201d as a single prior to the album\u2019s release. \u201cKiller Instinct\u201d was a holdover from the band\u2019s session back in \u201979-\u201980. <\/p>\n

Weapon (UK) doesn\u2019t shy away from delivering quality, if not inspired \u201880s metal. Certainly the spirit of the decade is felt in metallic anthems, such as \u201cBloodstone Rock,\u201d \u201cRide the Mariah,\u201d \u201cCelebration Time\u201d and others. The vocals can only be defined as a Metal Blue Oyster Cult meets the Moody Blues, with their lavishly layered, harmonies. Summers, who partnered with Gary Barden (MSG) in the band Statetrooper, handles the majority of the song writing throughout the album and always is keen to leave listeners with that big, fat heavy memorable riff.<\/p>\n

Overall, the music on Rising from the Ashes<\/em> offers listeners catchy, hook-laden jaunts that lyrically are not overtly serious, yet the musicianship high caliber. <\/p>\n

Genre: \tNew Wave of British Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nDanny Hynes – Vocals
\nJeff Summers – Guitar\/Vocals
\nPJ Phillips – Bass\/Vocals
\nIan Sweeting \u2013 Drums<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tPrelude (The Awakening)
\n2.\tRide The Mariah
\n3.\tFountain Of Paradise
\n4.\tWarrior
\n5.\tReady 4 U
\n6.\tBurning Skies
\n7.\tAlamein
\n8.\tWonderland
\n9.\tBlood Soaked Rock
\n10.\tBad Reputation
\n11.\tCelebration Time
\n12.\tKiller Instinct (Bonus Track)<\/p>\n

Label: T.B.C.<\/p>\n

Web: http:\/\/www.weapon-uk.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by John Kindred – Publisher — Guitarist Jeff Summers (Statetrooper) and vocalist Danny Hynes have revived their \u201880s NWOBHM band, Weapon. Officially known today as Weapon (UK), it seems another group had formed under the […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":42921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10848],"tags":[2317,1103,9623,9233,3897,8854,9624,9522,9622],"class_list":{"0":"post-42920","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arcrvws2014","8":"tag-cd-review","9":"tag-hard-rock","10":"tag-jeff-summers","11":"tag-new-wave-of-british-heavy-metal","12":"tag-nwobhm","13":"tag-rising-from-the-ashes","14":"tag-statetrooper","15":"tag-weapon","16":"tag-weapon-uk"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}