Forge Hounds is the self-titled debut album by the Waterford based classic Irish rock band Forge Hounds, who are Paul J Bolger, Mick Wall, Steve Roche and Andy Kavanagh, the album was recorded by Brendan Carthy at Orchard Recording Studios in Enniscorthy.
The album opens with Scratch That Itch an old school ballsy rocker for the queen of the scene that they are chasing after, they just need her, the guitars explode with intensity for the main solo, leaving no doubt about how intense the feelings they have are, they see she can't take a drink, or take a joke, but still chase after he irresistible charms.
Damned If You Don't is for someone struggling to get by in the hard scrabble life, whichever way he turns he's still up against it, this has a good driving blue collar edge, feeling like a cross between Energy Orchard and Thin Lizzy, they try to find the best way to put food on the table, Mick Wall's central solo leads into some pulsating bass from Steve Roche while they try to find a way not to be sacrificed.
Louder Than Words is for someone struggling to get by, slowly evolving like a slow Gary Moore tune but less windswept, Paul J Bolgers vocals get to the heart of the pain, all the strife they are trying to overcome. Making clear that some of the pat advice you’ve been given is useless in the face of recent times, actions will always speak louder than words.
Not The One is a full-on tear jerking rocker, they deny being the one that made her cry, or brought her to the edge of despair, over a heavy riff, the guitars go off and Andy Kavanaghs drums hold everything together with the power dynamics firing off.
Sun Kissed Sky is a classic trip to the sun for some fun and games, despite all the people trying to stop them going off to do what they want and need to do, this has a burnished Spanish Clash edge in places along with a triumphant almost Torme style solo.
Redcoat is in fear of the Redcoats and what they mean to this Irish lad, it feels like it is harking back to more troubled times but do the scars of all the mistreatment that was dealt out ever really heal, well spectacular firing squad guitar histrionics aside, the message is loud and clear we are still a long way from full atonement.
Hometown Hero is a full-on fist pumper of an anthem for one of those drunken fools, always looking to start a fight after a drink too many, they want to show him the door, so they can get on with having a good time. Just let Paul and Mick duke it out with their guitars, they prefer trading guitar offs to trading punches.
King Of The Strip is there tribute to the king of Punk, metal and rock that was Lemmy, no one quite like him, this is a good lean rocker in tribute to how he was at the centre of the scene for several decades, for me he was almost ever present at various London venues and clubs, always approachable, never failing to give his phone number to any woman who asked for it.
Dopu is a minute long musical evocation of the trauma of seeing the Death Of A Person Unknown that is the 8 minute plus closing number, a full on tale of traumatic death of that Person Unknown, whose death certainly wasn't to be poisoned by a girl, this is much nastier, hope that the crime might be solved without the need of another tomb, the blasted wastes evoked in the guitars and bass roaming that battlefield, by the end of this song you may well be singing along to the chorus.
Find out more at https://forgehounds.com/ https://www.facebook.com/forgehounds https://forgehounds.bandcamp.com/
