Knighthood: Bad Habits

Having already toured alongside Little Angels, Skiltron and Toseland, UK (with a touch of Spanish) traditional rockers Knighthood are already making an impact with both fans and bands alike. So much so in fact that Little Angels guitarist Bruce Dickinson went on to say this lot were "Aristocratic English rock… with the power of thunder". A debut EP Permission To Ride (and judging by the album cover for this release, they don't mean the merry-go-round!) announced a potent force of AC/DC sized proportions with a few little curve-balls tossed out for good measure. Bad Habits picks up that trail and follows it, in mighty fashion, to it's gargantuan conclusion. If you like your most royal AC of DC and appreciate a Teutonic blast of the Germanic masters Accept, while never underestimating a scything of Saxon, then bend down on one knee, bow your head and prepare to be bestowed a Knighthood!

You'll already have guessed Bad Habit is rifftastic and roaring in the rip style, singer (or should that be howling throat destroyer?) Frank Knight stands legs akimbo, a Brian Johnson (no I'm not bald at all) flat cap tightly pulled in place, a camouflaged pair of Udo Dirkshneider combats marching proudly. He's a mean frontman and his rasping, grating tones bring shattering outbursts to riffs which drips with a bluesy intent and metallic sheen. The man firing these killer fret shots out is Paul Curtis, an axe slinger who knows where the "spot" is and hits it every time. In the bullseye. And with a force that'll blow a hole straight through the target. Add in the killer driller rhythms of drummer John Powney and bassist Luis Antonio Guttera and Knighthood can stand loud and proud as one of the best exponents of this type of ageless rock we've seen in some time. Yes, doubtless you're lining up to tell me you already have enough of Airbourne's cloning in your collection and yet it is the Acceptisms in what Bad Habit entices you to take part in that allows Knighthood to bristle with an energy and threat the full on bluesy approach often misses.

Sample the mid-paced "Kinky" where the vocals cut through with a grating rasp, as the bass hammers home the aggressive advantage and "Bad Habits" which brings the groove, a bouncing brace of brashness honed into a sing along that goes on well after the song has faded out. Not convinced? Well, "Widow Ride" beefs up a Cheap Trick melody and metalises it almost out of recognition, "War" perfects the latter day AC/DC chant it out loud, while "Too Much Too Soon" adds a staccato burst of Saxon which injects an adrenaline shot of melodic might.

Habits off to Knighthood, for they've produced an album that in no way suggests it's this band's first full length effort. A maturity and focus on the prize in evidence right from the off. Add in that ever elusive ability to create hugely memorable choruses and hooks which glisten and gleam and this band become one Bad Habit you'll never want to kick.

Track Listing
1. Bad Habits
2. War
3. Frightman
4. Widow Ride 
5. Crying To The Moon
6. Too Much Too Soon
7. Permission To Ride
8. Kinky
9. Xcellerator
10. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
11. Vegas

Added: February 15th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Knighthood on Facebook
Hits: 2008
Language: english

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