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Jameson Raid: Just as the Dust Settled
Jameson Raid Just as the Dust Settled new music review

Jameson Raid: Just as the Dust Settled

Hard Rock
Rating: 3.0/5.0

Once again reaching deep into the past, Shadow Kingdom Records finds legendary UK band Jameson, and releases Just as the Dust Had Settled an anthology of their recordings. Formed in 1973, but only gaining a modicum of presence in the late 70's to early 80's, the band was named after a failed skirmish in South Africa. While the raid failed, the leader Leander Starr rose to some prominence and wealth. The same could not be said for Jameson Road.

Essentially 70's English hard rock, Jameson Raid rose during the early stages of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. There are some edgier, near metal, pieces here (Titanic or Run for Cover, by example), but don't look for the sounds of Judas Priest or Iron Maiden. This is simply gritty guitar driven rock. Actually, while the song compositions are better than average, even inspired at times, the real charm here is the vocal performance of Terry Dark. His style swings easily between the smooth and hard sides of rock, genuinely impressive. Otherwise, there is some solid hard rock performances here. Including the aforementioned, add also Seven Days of Splendor, The Hypnotist, The Raid (about the namesake uprising), and Electric Sun.

Conversely, Just as the Dust Had Settled is hampered by the quality of the original masters. This makes listening to this work somewhere between difficult and torturous. However, giving your ears time to adjust, maybe after two or three songs, you will find some true gems here. Lovers of the early era of Brit hard rock, or inquisitive rock historians, should check out this disc.

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In Short

On Just as the Dust Had Settled, Jameson Raid, an iconic and short-lived late 70's English hard rock band, is captured for posterity in this anthology of their recordings.

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