Maverick
By Mike O’Cull
Glasgow-based blues/rockers King King deliver their most evolved and meaningful effort to date with their new album Maverick. Due to drop November 27th, 2020 on Channel 9 Records, Maverick is a brawny and beautiful rock and roll record that’s completely genuine in its emotion and execution and comes at listeners with a sound that’s crisp as an autumn morning. Band members Alan Nimmo (vocals/guitar), Stevie Nimmo (guitar), Jonny Dyke (organ/piano), Zander Greenshields (bass), and Andrew Scott (drums) form a tough and talented lineup that plays for the song but can still shine as individuals. Produced by Alan Nimmo, Jonny Dyke, and Liam McCluskey at Morsecode Studios in Glasgow, the tones on Maverick are warm and organic and the performances absolutely tops.
Maverick is King King’s fifth album and was co-written by all the key players. This gives the new material an incredible cohesion that results in fully committed vocal and instrumental takes, an expansive creative vision, and an unbeatable real-life vibe that’s instantly attractive. “Musically, it’s more mature and more complex than our previous records,” says vocalist/guitarist Alan Nimmo, “but it also has the simplicity of an album that just has great catchy songs that people will want to sing along with. The essence of King King is still there and always will be. We hope the energy, fun and passion is evident throughout!” Nimmo’s hopes do, indeed, come to pass on Maverick and no one will ever accuse this lot of phoning in anything.
The album begins with the fiercely rocking “Never Give In,” a heavy mid-speed song that functions quite well as King King’s take-no-mess mission statement. “Don’t knock me down, don’t get in my way” Nimmo sings with enough fire inside to make anyone out there clear him a path. He has a room-filling vocal sound reminiscent of the great Paul Rodgers of Bad Company fame and knows how to work it to achieve maximum impact. The guitar and organ timbres are gritty and inspired, as are their performances, and the track immediately grabs your full attention.
“Fire In My Soul” is a stirring rock and roll love song that overflows with intensely romantic sentiments, a driving rock groove, and more outstanding guitar and vocal work. Nimmo’s vocals pull you into the world of the song and let you experience some of what he felt during the songwriting process. It’s a brilliant track with big hooks and a big heart. “Whatever It Takes To Survive” mellows out for a moment at the beginning but rises high during the chorus. It’s a moody, introspective cut that displays King King’s deeper lyrical and musical abilities in a remarkable way. The harmony guitar work is especially moving. The entire group pushes and pulls with changing energy levels of each section and you can practically feel them all breathing as a single entity.
“One World” is a melodic cut that brings some social commentary to the record and makes a plea for peace and unity. Keyboardist Jonny Dyke steers the groove with funky authority and makes his presence known by feel, alone. It’s a lyrically-oriented song that puts forth a well-intentioned message that we could all do with internalizing right now. “Dance Together” speaks to the same sense of unity but in a more rocked-up manner. The band hits the track hard but never oversteps it, putting down an exhilarating arrangement that could easily get a stadium crowd on its feet with its fists in the air.
King King has been called one of the best blues/rock bands operating today and every song on Maverick does much to confirm that assessment. These guys are all hot players, they write amazingly well together, and they get behind these songs with every ounce of their beings. What else can you ask for?
Leave A Comment