Griffin, Jim: The Counterblast

Irish musician Jim Griffin is set to release his new album The Counterblast. As you would imagine, Jim is the focal point, but is joined by guest musicians from the Irish prog scene on drums and sax (Keith McCoy, Robbie Costello), along with some top tier guest vocals by David Reece (Accept, Bonfire, Bangalore Choir). The album is getting its wax treatment via Sound Effect Records.

The Counterblast is a mixed bag of an album featuring up-tempo space rock, 70’s inspired hard rock, and more modern sounding introspective work, all with a progressive spacey overtone.

The album gets underway with "Cosmic Law and Order", which is apparently a leftover, or incomplete track from Jim’s psych-rock instrumental project Zombie Picnic. I like this track a lot �" it's spacey, trippy and features some tidy and creative guitar work. Sound bites of Carl Sagan and Charles Lawson add extra layers of space to the cake.

"Xenocide" is up next. It’s a cool tune that reminds me simultaneously of both Paranoid era by Black Sabbath and Court of the Crimson King era King Crimson - heavy riffing, vocal melodies that don’t stray too far from the melody of the riff, and that iconic combination of heavy guitars and sax lines.

"A Counterblast to Astral Travel" is up next and it’s a beast of a track that is fitting of the album’s title. It’s heavy by Jim’s standards, has some pretty wild and spacey lyrics and David Reece is laying down an impressive vocal performance.

If we were listening to the vinyl, it would be time to flip it over to side B for the 3 part "Sleeping Generation". These three tracks are thematically linked but all stand alone as tracks in their own right. Here, we get Jim taking on vocal duties, in what is a much more atmospheric, mellow, and introspective side. These tracks remind me at times of bands Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, and the like. These three songs are simple but effective - well written and executed tunes with plenty of breathing room for the various layers in the arrangement.

The Counterblast is a solid new release, recommended for fans who enjoy Space Rock, Psych and Prog in equal measure.

Tracklist
1)Cosmic Law and Order
2)Xenocide (feat. David Reece, Keith McCoy & Robbie Costelloe)
3)A Counterblast to Astral Travel (feat. David Reece)
4)Sleeping Generation, Pt. 1
5)Sleeping Generation, Pt. 2
6)Sleeping Generation, Pt. 3

Added: November 17th 2025
Reviewer: Chris Reid
Score:
Related Link: Artists @ Bandcamp
Hits: 33
Language: english

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