Silent Jack – Play The Game

Silent Jack a hard rocking four piece from Birmingham released their debut album ‘Play The Game’ on 30th September 2015 following a campaign on Pledgemusic. Their debut album follows a seven track EP Snakebite and was recorded at Arkham Studios, under the guidance of producer Alex Cooper and self-released via their own label S J Records. You can find out a bit more about Silent Jack by reading our feature here or watching our interview with them recorded at Highway To Hell, The O2 Academy, Sheffield here.

First track Hellride gets the album off to hell of a start reminding me of a cross between Crystal Pistol’s Rockstar and Suzie Smiled by Tygers of Pan Tang. Whiskey N Me a catchy number with a strong rhythm section and some screaming riffs which leads into a chant of what sounds like ‘fight, fight, fight’. Title track Play The Game comes next and this one reminded me of Falling Red’s Sue You For Your Soul. A couple of ballads in I Am The Law and Turn Away, the latter having a Poison vibe, I’m thinking Every Rose Has It’s Thorn.  Highway Man was an interesting one with some great riffs starting off a bit Hollywood by Junkyard then merging into a cross between that and Queen’s Tie Your Mother Down. Too Many Women with it’s chugging beat had a flavour of Vardis’ Too Many People although I also thought of Aerosmith, two of their songs sprung to mind Dude (Looks Like a Lady) and Same Old Song and Dance. Some great riffage and a bit of mouth organ in Outlaw. Love Bite a bit punky. Thirteenth and final track Make It Right with more screaming riffs and a chugging beat ended the album on a high note.

A good mix of fast and slow tracks, starting with a Hellride, meandering through whisky drinking, game playing, poison and too many women but it all comes out right! A sound debut album from Silent Jack, which should appeal to fans of Crystal Pistol, Falling Red, Junkyard and Vardis.

I haven’t yet managed to see a full set, only three songs at Highway To Hell, but I hope to catch a full set next year, those in the Birmingham area don’t have to wait quite so long as they’re playing a charity gig in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital at Scruffy Murphy’s next Saturday.

Highlight Track: Whisky N Me

Track List:

1: Hellride
2: Whisky & Me
3: Play The Game
4: Love Machine
5: Midnight Ride
6: I Am The Law
7: Pretty Posion
8: Turn Away
9: Highway Man
10: Too Many Women
11: Outlaw
12: Love Bite
13: Make It Right

Band Members:

Rich ‘Stitch’ Mason – Vocals/2nd Guitar
Adam Carson – Lead Guitar
Dickie Spider – Bass Guitar
Scott Carson – Drums/Backing Vocals

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silentjackband/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/silentjackband?lang=en-gb

Website: http://www.silent-jack.com/