There’s two types of 50 and up rock fans: The ones who insist there’s “no good bands anymore” and the ones who frequent the Monsters of Rock Cruise. The latter always return from their annual excursion championing the new talent who graced the lineup; bands like H.E.A.T., Eclipse, and Inglorious. Of that bunch, Inglorious is a band I had been meaning to check out for a few years, but never got around to. I figured their latest album, We Will Ride, would serve as the perfect introductory course.
From the first minute of the opening track, “She Won’t Let You Go”, I figured out exactly what this band is about. It’s that old school meets new school approach to hard rock being played by Black Star Riders, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Halestorm, etc. Hell, it was less than a month ago that I reviewed the similarly styled Dead Daisies album, Holy Ground. While there were moments on that album I didn’t care for, one thing is for certain: The Dead Daisies execute this style far more efficiently than Inglorious.
Half of We Will Ride is decent throwback hard rock. The other half lives up the band’s name. There’s no denying Nathan James has a powerful voice that lies somewhere between David Coverdale and Myles Kennedy. There’s even the occasional guitar solo that produces an approving scowl upon my face. What unfortunately holds this album back is its reliance on the same tried and true, generic post-grunge formula I’ve heard two zillion times. I don’t know why so many bands insist on playing this style. It was boring in 2001 and is downright derivative in 2021.
One second we’ll be treated to a sultry blues rocker (“Medusa”). The next it’s a boring ballad (“Eye of the Storm”). We foray into the dark, melodic world of Odyssey era Yngwie Malmsteen (“Cruel Intentions”), only to be interrupted by monotonous radio rock (“My Misery”). This goes on throughout the course of the entire album. Inglorious can’t seem to decide whether they want to be retro or modern, and their combination of the styles is murky at best.
If Inglorious stuck to a strictly retro approach, they might have a chance at winning me over. Who knows if that will ever happen? If any previous albums adhered to such, please send them my way. I’d love to eat my words. Until then, I must say that the old schoolers are wrong on these guys.
4 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Music
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Whitesnake, Rival Sons, Alter Bridge