Billy Alexander – Hammer Of The Gods (self-released)

Ahead of his solo debut album, Rock & Roll Diary, Billy Alexander has given us a brilliant first taste of what’s to come in the form of Hammer of the Gods. A heady blend of Zeppelin-esque intricacy and Def Leppard’s vocal prowess, it is a song that confidently strides across the rock and roll landscape. And as it does so, it picks up all the best grooves and moves from across the eras. 70’s rock grandeur meets 80’s polish, 90’s alternative power, 21st centre poise and production and modern rock accessibility all ooze from its musical pores.

But this is no backwards-glancing tribute to the past; this is a musical snowball that builds on what has gone before and adds fresh musical weight and sonic momentum as it crashes into a discerning, contemporary rock audience.

Rock & Roll Diary might be a debut album in the strict sense of the word, being the first time Billy has recorded under his own name but with a resume that includes bands such as Feel, YYNOT, John Waite, Anna Nalick, plus writing, producing and collaborating with a host of names, and winning a number of awards along the way, he is anything but a new kid on the rock block. And Hammer of the Gods proves that point brilliantly.