Sandstorm from Eric Steckel is a blues album which is raw and pure, abandoning multiple pedal or digital effects.

FULL SOUND

In an era where pedal boards, laptops and samples are the norm, Eric Steckel goes against the grain and harkens back to the days when great guitars were played loudly through great amps

It has a full sound which Eric Steckel and his band have created in much the same way as when Rory Gallagher and his like stepped on stage, cranked it up and played straight through amps and massive speakers. It seems like the only controlling factor is a volume knob turned up to ‘loud’ – on some tracks turned to ‘louder’.

The opening track When it Rains It Pours, offers both clarity in the music and his vocals yet retains a live feel to it. When the ringing guitar solo comes in as it inevitably does, we are already warmed up for a thrilling sonic experience before he suddenly he pares it all down for a serene ending.

HEAVY ROCKER

Staccato drums firing percussive bullets are a main feature of the heavy rocker The Other Guy but Blues For The Lonely shows that there is more to Eric than crash -bang-wallop. A keyboard led track with organ and piano, the slow passionate blues builds to a equally emotional guitar solo.

Eric says this album “is the most fun I’ve had making a record in my career thus far. The incredible vibe in the studio brought forth tons of new and spontaneous material.” You invited to join in the fun as it hots up for What I Wanna Believe which is really pure thrash metal where it seems like each band member was indeed invited to let loose.

According to Eric. Sandstorm embodies this spontaneity. A track he says: “which instantly became my favourite track on this album and a perfect representation of this body of work.”

EXHUBERANT

The exuberance and tempered rage is followed by angst in Empty Promises. You can almost feel the torment in the guitar work but finds some solace in the instrumental passages. The next few tracks that follow are of the same bent; packed with thrills, passion and noise. But what a glorious noise!

The final track Back To Life, which was also released as a single, is a personal testament of what music means to him and has feelings with which we can all identify. “Back To Life’is quite simply my personal tribute to the sacred art form that is music. Its restorative powers have guided me and protected me from a very young age.“

VIGOROUS

Heavy blues music can be quite overpowering but the music on this album is not. Yes it’s dynamic, uninhibited and vigorous but with a modicum of restraint which his years of experience and association with some blues legends that makes it highly listenable and entertaining.

Here’s She’s A Golddigger:

Eric Steckel: Website

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