Review | Grand Slam – Wheel Of Fortune

Silver Lining Music

When the late, great Phil Lynott put Thin Lizzy to bed in 1983 soon after he started up a new band called Grand Slam with former Magnum keyboardist Mark Stanway and former Stampede guitar slinger Laurence Archer (who in later years turned up in UFO and the Pete Way Band). Everyone was looking forward to a record-release but not one record company wanted to take a risk on Lynott who in those days was not seen as a stable investment because of his drugs and alcohol addiction. Unfortunately for the rock world Phil passed away on January 4, 1986 which also put an end to the aspirations of Grand Slam. In 2016 Stanway and Archer reformed the band and released the album ‘Hit The Ground’ in 2019 (by that time Stanway had left although contributing to that album.)

NEW LINE-UP

Archer continued, fully believing in his band with singer Mike Dyer, seasoned bass player Rocky Newton (former MSG and active in Lionheart) and drummer Benjy Reid. This new line-up signed with the Silver Lining Music label presenting a new album entitled ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ (‘Hit The Ground’ will be re-released shortly). Laurence Archer is rolling the dice again here, hoping for a little more good fortune and armed with a robust sounding heavy rock album where his guitar antics take central stage. But it is not that Archer is trying to establish himself as a guitar hero here. His playing is in favour of the songs.

CLASSIC SOUND WITH A MODERN VIBE

It is difficult these days for a ‘relative’ new outfit to get noticed. But an experienced warrior like Archer has found a perfect gateway as the sound of Grand Slam is pretty classic but with a modern and hard rocking vibe. Take opener ,,There Goes My Heart’’ where a certain Thin Lizzy feel is clearly present (absolutely nothing wrong with that) and the spirit of Phil Lynott comes back on the album a few times. As said, the guitar work of Archer is impressive but it is all about the songs and they are with one or two exceptions perhaps pretty good.

Personally I would have preferred one or two songs more in the vein of ,,Spitfire’’, where Grand Slam explodes into a real metal outfit armed with pace, force and panache. For me the best song followed by the title song that is a sensitive ballad with again great solo work by a guitarist that has been in the business for years and is in my opinion heavily underrated.

GRAND SLAM – THE CONCLUSION

I think it has been a clever move of the band to record some songs with an unmistakable Lynott/Lizzy feel (,,There Goes My Heart’’, ,,Come Together (In Harlem)’’, ,,Trail Of Tears’’) making clear what their legacy could/should have been. There are on the other hand enough ingredients there to create a stabile future on, as Grand Slam is determined to make this record count with its robust sound but with enough melody and sustain to get noticed by a broad generation of rock fans. Get acquainted by watching the videoclip for ,,There Goes My Heart’’ on You Tube in case you are wondering what this band has in store. A very satisfying effort indeed.