And another brilliant review or two......
" Nope this isn’t extreme, I’ll admit that. It’s not black this, death that or thrash the other; but surely sometimes we all just want some straight between the eyes hard fuckin’ rock ’n’ roll? Something to crack a beer to, play a little air guitar to? All Out War sounds raw, passionate, live, real, alive and it’s packed with infectious riffs and irresistible grooves. If the likes of video track ‘Dirty Weekend’ and ‘Shake Your Love’ don’t at least get you nodding your head in appreciation then you really might well be dead. The rhythm section of drummer Greg Barthram and bassist Dave Pattenden combine locked down tightness with natural groove and swing while Graham Barthram’s guitars light fires all over these cracking songs. Vocalist TJ is perhaps the band’s most potent weapon though, her voice is powerful and dominant one moment and then beguiling and entrancing the next. If it’s been too long since you got yourself a good dose of rock then Raising Sand may well be just what you’ve been missing."
The following review appeared in PowerPlay 117...
" In these days of sub genres beyond count, where everything you come across seems to be postblackdeaththrashprogressivebullshitcore or some such irritating combination, it’s great to get a mainline dose of good old fashioned hard rock. "All out War" is a cornucopia of grooving riffs to make you bang your head or dance – the choice is yours. This disc is crackling with energy and barely contained excitement, bubbling over with a real live wire exuberance and it’s irresistible. These songs sink their hooks into you with just one listen and the riffs feel like you’ve known them all your life. Topping everything off are the raw, sultry vocals of singer TJ – she switches between belligerent and bewitching at will and always hits the spot. It’s not all pedal to the metal from start to finish - ‘Spirit’ swings and ‘Witness’ is deliciously soulful and bluesy in parts – but the bottom line is if you’re feeling the need to rock the fuck out then Raising Sand are offering just that kind of ticket."
" A band more in your face than a lapdancer after a tip "
Garry Bushell Total Rock, The Daily Star.
Garry Bushell presents The best Independent Bands on Total Rock 27th February 2010 featuring RAISING SAND:
Link below to hear the Podcast of the show.
And another fantastic review of the album;
RAISING SAND 'All Out War' (2009) www.raisingsandmusic.com
Now this little mutha rocks like a good 'un! A female fronted blues rock band from the UK and the vocalist TJ has a mighty fine set of lungs! Just grab a listen to 'Dirty Weekend' for a mean, dirty slice of blues rock. 'One More Time' with its 'ooh ooh' Stones approved chorus would go down a storm live I am sure.
Fancy a female version of 70's boogie merchants Foghat? Try 'That's What They Say', a neat slow blues rocker. 'Witness' is one of those classic slow burner songs. It starts all slowly with acoustic guitar and vocals before ending in a flurry of guitars and TJ's immense vocals. The guitar playing throughout fits the songs well, nothing to overindulgent and plenty of tasty riffing.
A very assured album that puts many more established bands in the shade. Every music collection needs a band like Raising Sand for that no frills blues hard rock sound. Crank it up!
**** 4 out of 5
Jason Ritchie
" Like Airbourne on speed! "
Luke Wilkins.
Presenter Kerrang Radio.
ALBUM REVIEW: RAISING SAND – All Out War (Bullseye) - Liking this, the English band have got things impressively together, they weren’t this good last time around, what happened...? It was bugging me, this really does sound like something, what the hell is it? Then it clicked, they sound like Sammy Hagar’s Montrose (or maybe Young Heart Attack, who in turn sounded very much like Montrose anyway), that should be taken as a big compliment, Montrose, and indeed Hagar, rule. Raging Sand suddenly got their musical shit seriously together with some rather decent old school blue-edge storm-kicking hard rock then – nothing groundbreaking, nothing that different, just a good helping of old school hard rock that’s done right... www.myspace.com/raisingsand or www.raisingsandmusic.com
Many Thanks to all at ORGANART.NET is the place to find us now, dot com should work but the net is where we want you... grab your fishnets and your fishing nets and things will work with far more ease and... just reset yourbookmarks and don't get your toes stuck in the holes.
* Raising Sand
* It's in 'Em and It's Got to Come Out
* By Ollie, Mon 15th June 2009
Hell yeah, this is more like it…Goddam!!! This plants a dusty cowboy boot right up the old tush!!!
This three track demo dates back to 2006 but has only recently come to my attention. I'm sure these dirty London retro rockers have more recent stuff and on the strength of this release it will definitely be worth tracking down. I may have to start stalking them!!!
This is top drawer, sleazy rock and roll…think AC/DC, think Guns ‘N' Roses (when they were awesome), think prime 70's Aerosmith and you'll be pretty much on the money. This is the band that The Answer would love to be if they weren't so clean and corporate. Busting out the low slung guitars these guys kick out an amphetamine fuelled charge through the Rolling Stones blueprint that's high on adrenalin and low on fat. The first two tracks pull no punches and offer a one-two slap to the face. "The Alchemist" bringing to mind the hazy days of '87 when "Appetite For Destruction" hit the streets with an electric rock and roll buzz while "My Dirty Weekend" rides on a dirty AC/DC style riff of the kind that would have got Bon Scott hard. Final track "Up and Down (See Saw)" changes the pace a little and injects a funky little groove and for me is the most memorable stand out track here. If you're not humming the hook after the first listen then…words fail me, you're a hopeless cause.
At three tracks this is a short, sharp poke in the eye!!! If this is drinking music then you'd better knock back the shots quick as this is over all too soon. If you like music that'll get big haired, scantily clad 80's style rock chicks up and shaking the silicon then this will be right up your back alley…and thank fuck there are bands out there still keeping the rock and roll dream alive and sidestepping the genre quagmire. Get yourself a shot of tequila and check these guys out.
Many thanks to our friend, Javierof El Diablo magazine for incorporating us in him latest issue! Follow the link and find us on a two page spread, page 129-130. http://www.eldiablomagazine.com/mag/03/index.html
