Artist: Exit State 
   Title: Death Of A Rockstar
   Label: King Prawn Records

Hailing from East Lancashire, Exit State deliver a sucker punch to the British Rock scene with their debut release 'Death Of A Rockstar', with their full on hit 'em hard, fast direct rock n' roll.

I first caught these guys at this years S.O.S. Festival and they ruled the stage with their no holds barred full on rock.  So does the onstage band have the same appeal on record? ... Hell Yeah!

This debut release comes out of the corner swinging as the album opens up with ‘Lost Beyond Belief’, a hard hitting Therapy styled rocker that really takes no prisoners.  Tuned out guitar licks are the back bone of this one with frontman and guitarist Roy Bright hitting the mark from the off.  This band remind me of a East Lancashire version of Danko Jones, but with more of an edge.

The hard-hitting rock continues with ‘Out Till 3’, again power driven guitar licks provided by Adam Stephenson and Bright, while the backbone rhythm section of Phil Ireland on bass and Peat Hicks on drums pound out the Helicopters styled rhythms.

The blazing punko metal of ‘Dominates Me’ does just that, this thumping mix of modern punk sleaze and metal bass lines really fill the track with more groove than is legal.

Next up is the title track  ‘Death Of A Rockstar’ which is split into two parts.  Part one is a more sedate piece that acts as the intro into the more rockier Part 2.  A real step away from the all out Rock n' Roll of the previous tracks.  A real classy track that has to be my favourite off the album.

But fear not this is just a short break as it's back to the all out rock attack with the anthemic ‘Bad Days’, with its sing-a-long chorus, then it's time to sleaze things up a touch with ‘Dirty Intoxicated’, a real funky slice of modern day rock.

Another of my favourite tracks off the album has to be ‘I Know Where You Are’, a thumping bass fuelled rocker that shows the multifaceted nature of Exit States sound.  The soaring guitar work on this track alone is worth the purchase price of the album.

The album comes to a close with ‘And She Said’, another switch in styles this has commercial single written all over it.  A gentle rocker that has radio friendly written all over it.

This is another great debut album from a band that can not only produce the goods on record, but also live, they really give it their all.  Definitely one to check out if you're into the like of Therapy, Danko Jones and the Foo Fighters.

Tracklisting:

1. Lost Beyond Belief
2. Out Till 3
3. Dominates Me
4. Death Of A Rockstar pt 1
5. Death Of A Rockstar pt 2
6. Bad Days
7. Dirty Intoxicated
8. I Know Where You Are
9. And She Said

                   

 

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