Album review: James And The Cold Gun – Face In The Mirror

James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers recently mused that what made Guns N’ Roses so electrifying in 1987 was that, unlike their poodle-haired contemporaries, they put the roll back into rock’n’roll. Fellow Welshmen James And The Cold Gun certainly pass the swagger test. The Welsh band’s second album, Face In The Mirror, oozes attitude with gutsy riffs and punked-up energy to boot.

The opening title-track and Riding The Tiger set the blueprint: cranked, in-your-face guitars and high-octane beats, all centred around singer James Joseph’s rebel yell. For the most part their tightly drilled approach hits on tracks like Above The Lake and the beefed up mix from Brendan O’Brien packs a wallop. But after a while, The Cold Gun’s slick delivery feels a little uptight for the raucous sound they aim for.

Like their influences – Queens Of The Stone Age, early Foos – the band are most exhilarating when they take risks and sound on the brink of coming off the rails. Getting loose like The Black Crowes on Guessing Games proves they can nail a badass groove, with juke joint piano and sleazy guitar licks that sound oiled by several tequila slammers. Meanwhile, Blood Red Sky swerves into Soundgarden territory, Gaby Elise’s rumbling bass line and Jack Wrench’s drums clattering in prehistoric union beneath heavy psychedelic guitars.

Things come into focus briefly on A Way Out, which builds from Joseph’s hazy vocals and gentle guitar into explosive desert rock riffing. Yet just as the band really start to cook – with James yelling ‘Running out of luck, running out of time’ – they abruptly run out of road and slam the brakes. You’re left with the impression that James And The Cold Gun have stepped forward on Face In The Mirror, and showed what they're made of very well, but their best is, excitingly, yet to come.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Queens Of The Stone Age, The Mysterines, Wunderhorse

Face In The Mirror is released April 25 via Loosegroove