ERIC GALES

CROWN

Provogue 10/10

At a music show in London a couple of years ago, many of the staff of our guitar magazines witnessed a jaw-dropping solo performance from Eric Gales. Even without a band – just a looper and, eventually, a bass player – the man was simply amazing. It was obviously only a matter of time before we saw Eric’s ascension to the stratospheric heights of six-string superstardom – and this latest studio album could be the one that puts him there. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Crown is Gales’ most personal album to date, dealing with the topics of substance abuse, racism and the hope for continuing sobriety and explosive creativity in the future. It’s not all lyrically dark and downbeat, though; check out the tongue-in-cheek duel between JoBo and Gales on the title track (which Eric wins by a Delta mile!). And while we’re on the subject of the guitar playing on this album, it’s quite likely that a new benchmark has been set here. Comparisons to Hendrix and SRV for are inevitable with the Strat-y tone of Gales’ Magneto Raw Dog signature guitar poured over every track like a rich syrup. Listen to tracks like You Don’t Know The Blues or the mini-track Rattlin’ Change for their sheer overdriven firepower or the clean tone balladry of Too Close To The Fire for majestic control. All hail the (new) king! (DM)