TROY REDFERN – Invocation – album review

Following the release of The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022). Invocation is 11 tracks of wonder-inducing guitar solos, slide riffs and sultry blues-rock, featuring the singles The Fever, Getaway, The Strange, The Calling, and the latest single “Van Helsing”. Set for release by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, you can order your copy here www.troyredfern.com.

Close your eyes and ready your ears for the next 41 minutes and 45 seconds of electrifying, slide-tastic, rock and roll on Troy Redfern’s Invocation.

Psyched up and ready to roll, Invocation opens with ‘The Strange‘, its upbeat harmonising melodies and hard-hitting slide guitar riffs, glide you slowly into Refrern’s realm, welcome to the Troy-niverse!! Upping the pace ‘Getaway‘ is flying high as Redfern’s mojo is in full flow creating his supernova. Having followed Troy’s musical journey for the past few years, it is great to see this rising star going from strength.

With a title like ‘Van Helsing’, I wasn’t expecting such a punchy retro rock and roll banger, and it’s a favourite of the man himself, It’s high energy, and also a great live track, you can watch the video below.

Wow, Invocation is a groundbreaking effort from Redfern, it’s diverse in styles whilst maintaining his familiar ambience.

Redfern’s vocals are slow and evocative, as are the moody and illustrious guitar solos on ‘The Calling‘ which intensifies, with a psychedelic swirl.

Provoking a moody western-style intro using his ’62 Silvertone Jupiter guitar, think ‘Blaze of Glory’ (Bon Jovi), you won’t be left hung and dry, the guitar manship is solid. ‘Native‘ rises and falls in intensity. You can imagine this track live at a festival, as the sun goes down and the lights amplify the stage, perfect.

Prepare yourself for the resonator vibration, as the lusty ‘The Fever’, invokes a chain reaction. Troy certainly comes alive, as he channels his energy into the song’s arousing guitar riffs!

Hard and heavy Aerosmith riffage, explodes like dynamite on this honky-tonk, blues-infused rock and roller. Redfern’s gritty vocals fit the fast-paced vibrant beat ‘Of All Night Long’. Melding straight into the blue-grass country sounds of ‘Blind Me‘ there’s no masquerading here and although Troy’s vocals are different in tone, they reverberate clear and passionate on this stand-out track!

Heavy bass is a favourite of mine and ‘Voodoo Priestess‘ has all the right ingredients as it casts its spell on you. It juggernauts along, backed by tub-thumping drums, Troy’s back with his raspy vocals on this siren call.

There’s so much passion and innovation on Invocation, and I dare say it’s one of Troy’s strongest albums to date. Redfern continues to explore to bring out the best in himself.

The album’s penultimate track ‘Take Me High‘ is a vigorous expression of losing control, portrayed through an endorphin guitar rush, of powerhouse rock.

The time has gone far too quickly and here we are at ‘The Last Stand’ an apt name for an album closer. Like a snake charmer, you are the snake as Troy lures you with his ’64 Teisco guitar rhythm loop, for one more time. The bluesy euphoric moody harmonies churn, as Redfern pushes himself for your listening pleasure.

INVOCATION – TRACK LISTING

1 – The Strange (3.36)
2 – Getaway (3.25)
3 – Van Helsing (2.55)
4 – The Calling (4.47)
5 – Native (4.43)
6 – The Fever (3.33)
7 – All Night Long (3.34)
8 – Blind Me (4.16)
9 – Voodoo Priestess (3.25)
10 – Take Me High (3.42)
11 – The Last Stand (3.46)

TROY REDFERN 

“INVOCATION JUNE 2024 HEADLINE UK TOUR
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM WWW.TROYREDFERN.COM

Monday 17 June – The Treehouse, Frome
Tuesday 18 June – Retro, Manchester
Wednesday 19 June – Classic Grand, Glasgow
Thursday 20 June – Bannerman’s Edinburgh
Friday 21 June – The Live Rooms, Chester
Saturday 22 June – Asylum 2, Birmingham
Sunday 23 June – Boiler Room, Guildford
Monday 24 June – The Junction, Cambridge
Sunday 25 June – The Joiners, Southampton
Monday 26 June – New Cross Inn, London
Tuesday 27 June – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells

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