Silver Horses – Tick (CD via )7Hard)

Originally formed in 2012, there’s some heavy elements of classic rock and metal in here, and a lot of work and tours down the line the band’s latest album is in blistering form.

Singer Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), who sung on their debut, guests on two tracks too, and Company Of Snakes vocalist Stefan Berggren adds to three tracks.

From the outset there’s some great guitar work, with opener ‘Heat & Snow’ featuring a great riff. ‘Hang My Head In Shame’, the first of two to feature Tony Martin, has a bluesy edge to the metal, it’s a rocking if moody name and the vocal range and power shine through.

A couple of the tracks nod back to the first few albums Steve Morse made with Deep Purple, which is no bad thing, albeit with a serious metal infusion. There’s an acoustic feel to ‘Before The Rain’, a more emotional number. The mix of acoustic guitar in the metal features in a couple of the tracks and adds to a nice change of pace.

The band feature Gianluca Galli (Mantra / Time Machine) on guitar, Andrea Castelli (Mantra) on bass and Mateo Bonini (MGRB) on drums.

There’s a young brashness and freshness to the sound that mixes with the great music well. Really worth checking out. 7/10

Joe Geesin

Tracks

Heat and Snow

Hang My Head In Shame (featuring Tony Martin)

Life Don’t Come Easy

Before The R