Maverick - Big Red (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Metalapolis Records

Track listing:

01. All For One
02. Free
03. The One
04. Mademoiselle
05. Forever
06. In The Night
07. Whisky Lover
08. Renegade
09. Beyond The Gates
10. Asylum
11. Fly Away

Maverick are a five-piece from Northern Ireland whom have been building their fan base since 2012 and now four years later unleash Big Red, sure to be a sure fire hit amongst fans of late 80's early 90's rocks hard rock bands such as Babylon Ad, Motley Crue and Skidrow!
One of the first things that  you will notice throughout this album, from start to finish, are the huge guitar riffs from lead guitarist Ryan Balfour and the strong pipes of his brother and lead vocalist David Balfour.
This becomes evident very early on, just check out the opening salvo of “All For One” and “Free” which feature  these aspects, including an outstanding harmonising section from the rest of the band (and a bass solo from Richie Diver).
The  Belfast lads have never shied away from expressing their musical influences from the likes of Poison to Winger to Warrant to Motley Crue and Skidrow, and while you hear an influence of each of these bands throughout the album they were shown predominately in the catchy love song “The One” and the party classic “Whiskey Lover” that will have anyone listening to this album up dancing with a bottle of Jack in hand, the guys never loose their own identity.
There was even a tasteful Thin Lizzy / Dokken mixture added to the following track “Renegade.”
In fact "Mademoiselle" could very easily be a transitional track between Skidrow's debut album and the mighty Slave To The Grind, and sees vocalist David Balfour easily tackling Seb Bach's vocal style! Definitely my favourite track on the album!
One track that deserves a special mention is “Asylum”. This tune features some huge special guests in The Poodles' lead vocalist Jakob Samuelsson and a guitar solo from Alice Cooper’s former guitarist Kane Roberts. Maverick supported The Poodles on their last European tour, this friendship then blossomed into what we have now, a powerful vocal duet between David Balfour and Jakob Samuelsson.

In Big Red Maverick have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, and manage to bring memories of the rocking late 80's and early 90's flooding back.

Very Highly Recommended!

Rating: 9/10

Maverick are:

Lead Vocals: David Balfour
Guitar: Ryan Sebastian Balfour
Guitar: Terry McHugh
Bass: Richie Diver
Drums: Mike Ross