THE SMOKIN’ PROPHETS – “DECEIVED DISEASED”

If you’re after some straight up eighties inspired rock n roll, then look no further as the Smokin’ Prophets have you covered.  The lads are by no means breaking into new territory but pride themselves on their love of glam punk bands formed in the late seventies/early eighties, they may not have been old enough to experience it first time around but they’ve certainly embraced the era and are intent on making their presence known.

You can almost smell the hairspray pouring out the speakers when the albums kicks off with “You Better Run” and tracks such as “The Innocent” and “Liability” have the Smokin’ Prophets taking influence from Hanoi Rocks and the latter-day Swedish glam of Backyard Babies for a couple more dirty rock n roll numbers.

The hooks on both tracks show that the Smokin’ Prophets can certainly write a good tune, with the initial having its catchy vocals and first of the albums many guitar solos that will have fans carrying out back to back air guitar, whereas the latter has much punkier roots when it comes to spitting out the chorus like a Johnny Lydon and Johnny Thunders double team.

There are plenty of other reference points to bands from across the other side of the Atlantic with the Smokin’ Prophets baring a vague similarity to Alice Cooper on “Do You Believe” before “Mr Rock n Roll” is the band trying to find their answer to Kiss classics such as “God of Thunder”.

It’s not that the band are deliberately emulating their hero’s for if that were the case the end result of “Deceived Diseased” would be all too contrived/watered down and it’s here that the production comes into play, Alex Long having captured the live feel of the four piece – an outfit who have amongst other things previously supported New York Doll’s Steve Conte, appeared on the bill at the legendary Donnington Park for the Download Festival and already earnt themselves a headlining spot at local event Punkfest 2016 on the back of one, more low key performance.

With a total of fifteen tracks on the album there’s the odd throwaway tune that may pass you by but like any big-hair eighties metal band it’s not all rock n roll, so get out your cigarette lighters and wipe away the smudged eyeliner for token power ballad “Longing for You”, which surprisingly becomes another one of the albums highlights before the heavier guitars are back out.

The second half of the album continues in the same vein as the first with “Sordid n Immortal” among the stronger tracks, a disillusioned anti-Hollywood rant ironically coming from a band who have immersed themselves in bands such as Motley Crue and Guns n Roses who would often be found staggering the pavements of Hollywood’s Sunset Strip and drinking in the likes of the Rainbow Bar and Grill or the Troubadour club.

For now though the Smokin’ Prophets are to stick to this side of the water, putting on their leathers, cranking up their amplifiers and with the album coming out the beginning of 2016 their hard work over the last couple of years has clearly paid off… for with “Deceived/Diseased” the Smokin’ Prophets are on fire.