Review ANTHONY GOMES ‘High Voltage Blues’

Canadian born singer and guitarist Anthony Gomes is well known to some blues enthusiasts. In general, Gomes has a fan base across North America. If you don’t know the musician at all, you have the chance to catch up on lost ground on September 23rd.

‘High Voltage Blues’ is the new album by Gomes, which will be released via Rat Pak Records. However, it is only a new album to a certain extent. Rather, it is a compilation of songs of the blues rock guitarist which have been re-recorded and appear in new glory.

In order to not only revel in the past, Gomes has added three new tracks to ‘High Voltage Blues’, each of them a little blues rock firework. One of these delights is called ‘Fur Covered Handcuffs’ and is a great song in which the spirit of ZZ Top comes alive. This track immediately unfolds its full potential and instantly pleases on the first listen.

Also ‘I Believe’ belongs to the new tracks on ‘High Voltage Blues’. Here it is the stomping beat and the felicitous melody line that give the song a positive vibe. ‘I Believe’ is a track that fires up faith in humanity and love, both more than relevant in these strange times.

For a handful of songs, Gomes also was able to get two greats of the rock business on board. Right from the first song, ‘Painted Horse’, the tightly working rhythm section stands out. None other than bass legend Billy Sheehan and Korn drummer Ray Luzier give the track the right punch and thus the foundation for Gomes’ singing blues guitar. This song is a musical wildhorse that is tough to tame.

With ‘Blues-A-Fied’ the title of the song already speaks volumes and clearly indicates where things are heading. Also to be mentioned is ‘Peace, Love & Loud Guitars’, the title track from the 2018 album. This energizer has the ability to unite people, fans of dynamic and powerful rock music “From Montreal to Mozambique”.

‘High Voltage Blues’ is a great gateway for blues rock fans who didn’t have the Toronto-born guitarist on their radar before. Each of the songs that made it onto this album represents the soulful world of blues rock and one thing is very clear. Anthony Gomes has no need to hide from the greats of this genre. Skills, passion and emotion are combined here to create a unique musical delight.

Tracklist:

Painted Horse (featuring Billy Sheehan & Ray Luzier)
Fur Covered Handcuffs
Blues-A-Fied
Born to Ride (featuring Billy Sheehan & Ray Luzier)
Peace, Love and Loud Guitars (featuring Billy Sheehan & Ray Luzier)
I Believe
Red Handed Blues
Turn It Up!
Blues In The First Degree
Hell and Half of Georgia
Darkest Before The Dawn (featuring Bekka Bramlett & Wendy Moten)
Blues Child
White Trash Princess
Rebel Highway (featuring Billy Sheehan & Ray Luzier)
Darkest Before The Dawn (Extended Version) (featuring Bekka Bramlett & Wendy Moten)