From the bombastic opening salvo of lead single ‘I Don’t Need Your Loving’, it is apparent that Inglorious are a rock group of a thoroughly vintage nature. Having formed in 2014 and hailing from Blighty Inglorious are rockers with a self-confessed love of 70’s rock. Hot off the heels of their self-produced 2016 début I, comes the imaginatively titled II (Frontiers Music s.r.l) recorded live and mixed by none other than Kevin ‘Caveman’ Shirley – whose roll call of artists include Iron Maiden, Rush, Aerosmith and Black Star Riders amongst others.

Their love of classic rock acts is apparent from the off, with the pre-1987 era Whitesnake in the groove heavy rockers ‘Tell Me Why’ and ‘Taking the Blame’. The moody aura of ‘Faraway’ with its acoustic intro and Phil Beaver’s huge Bonham-like drum sound rekindles memories of Led Zeppelin. The gorgeously soulful vocals of Nathan James – of The Voice and Trans Siberian Orchestra fame – is an immediate head turner, evoking David Coverdale and Paul Rodgers in their prime: the melodious head banger ‘High Class Woman’ especially, mixing a heavier take on Bad Company with James’s Coverdale like howls of ‘OW OW OWW!’ in between the crunching guitars.

II is a more cohesive album than its bluesy predecessor, full of no-nonsense hard-rocking ear worms with a warm sound arising from its organic, resolutely old school production. The short, sharp and Deep Purple-esque power of ‘No Good For You’ and ‘I Got A Feeling’ showcase the record’s cohesive and tight-knit nature. The tracks flow nicely into one another, as we are smoothly moved onto the heaviest track ‘Black Magic’ and its subtle use of piano in the background.

A great album from a promising young band, they build on their bluesy début by delivering consistently hard rocking and darn catchy ditties.

7.0/10

THOMAS THROWER