SONGS FROM THE SOLWAY

This is a fairly new release and as such i've rated at at 4 stars, in time this EP may well grow on me and it may creep up into the 5 star rating. If you've read my review of Road to Darkness (R2D), Gandalf's Fist's Last studio album you'll know that i'm a fan, this band from Cumbria UK have followed that up with a great little 30 odd min EP based in myth and legend of their home land bringing together a collection of songs about Cumbria and the Solway.

There are a number of nautical themed songs and some of the tracks on this release will be familiar to fnas of the band; Stakes at low Tide is a remixed folkier version of a track off of their debut album The Master and the Monkey and She dwelt amongst the Untrodden ways will be familiar to those who have listened to Road to Darkness, although both benefit from having a female vocalist as opposed to the male vocals on the originals.

The stand out tracks on this release are The Unforgiving sea, a spoken word almost Richard Burton voice tells the tale of ship being battered and driven onto the shore, with an awesome chorus which is catchy as hell! The Betsy Jane is a sea shanty, good and proper, here the "what shall we do with a drunken sailor" riff played over the chorus towards the end.

Gandalf's Fist have steered away from the Floydian sound of R2D and embraced something very rural and folky, Untrodden Ways from R2D has its hooks deep in this track and the Nautical theme continues through into by far the best song on this release.

The Regency Rascal, this song is an 11 min rollercoaster of music, its by far the heaviest song by the band, more Prog Metal in places than Prog rock, but with a calypso riff that catches you off guard, but that fits into the overall piece brilliantly. Deep layered female vocals and amazing guitar parts are littered throughout this track, the bridge and solo are incredible, its almost Maidenesque in parts and sounds amazing.

What are Gandalf's Fist? Are they Floydian Prog? Are they Neo Prog? Folk Pro? Or Prog Metal? Answer I have no idea, but what they are is Brilliant 8/10.