(c) 2023 Century Media
Tony Gambino--Vocals
Shred Sean--Guitars
Don Vedda--Guitars, Backing Vocals
Tyler Hoare--Bass
Ian "Slater" Evans--Keys, Drums
It has been quite some time since neo-speed glamsters Blessed By A Broken Heart released "Another Day, Another War" in 2020, and that is the only new music we have heard from these awesome Canadians since 2012's Feel The Power album. So, this new track makes exactly TWO songs released in more than a decade! Talk about time to get going again!
With the band re-signed to Century Media, which was their home clear back in 2008, long-time lead vocalist, Tony Gambino, returns to the microphone, and with his familiar snarl in place, the band sounds like they never left despite a new member and some instrumental changes. This time around, the band introduces new guitarist and backing singer, Don Vedda, with Slater moving back to keys and out from behind the drum kit (although, I believe he did record drums for this track).
On the track, things open up with the sound of electric guitars being plugged in and turned on, before a rapid fire burst of snare drum launches the band full-speed into this fun headbanger that is a flat-out warning to the posers who have laid claim to BBABH's title (what that title is, I'm not entirely sure, but I'm guessing it's "Most Fun Metal Band Alive"). "Copy and paste all you want, but when push comes to shove, you'll never be quite like us" sneers Gambino on the pre-chorus lead-up to the first run through the chorus, which is pure fun as he challenges: "Forget the fakes and cheap imitations, We'll take the stage and recover the throne!"
Musically, the band remains extremely tight, which has long been a trademark of BBABH's sound. There is some insanely fast drum work going on after the second run through the chorus, and we are treated to a pretty intense breakdown section with some harsher core vocals. Headbangers, fear not, as there is an absolutely ripping solo section following this breakdown with what sounds like a tradeoff between Shred and newcomer Vedda. Another run through the chorus, a few more blistering fret runs, and the band closes out things with a partial chorus of "We'll take the stage and...RECOVER THE THRONE!"
Now, THAT is how you tease a return!
For fans who have been in love with these guys since 2008's Pedal To The Medal, which features such killer cuts as "She Wolf", "Move Your Body" and To Be Young", or personal favorite Feel The Power from 2011, with the excellent "Deathwish" and "Shut Up and Rock!", you are likely to love where BBABH is at now, and where they seem to be headed. If you go even further back to the band's 2005 debut album, the decidedly death metal-inspired All's Fair In Love And War, you are not going to find what you are looking for, at least with this single, as all that remains from that version of the band is founder Hoare. Yes, their 2020 single was a a lot more metalcore and significantly less glammy, but with Gambino back, and with the addition of a second guitar player that will allow Shred to...well...shred, I think it is safe to say the fun side of Blessed By A Broken Heart is likely to return in full force, at least on the upcoming album. Yes, there will be some harsher vocals, but there is going to be a whole lot of hypershred fun and big, layered backing vocals, also, which suits me fine!
And, hey...they even put together a Rambo-inspired lyric video for your viewing pleasure...
