Blues Pills

In the annals of 21st century rock music there are few bands so gleefully out of step with the fickle and ever-changing constraints of fashion than Blues Pills. Theirs is a pyrotechnic combination of thrilling live shows and reliably brilliant releases, and in defiance of expectation they’ve been received with open arms by countless fans of their decidedly analog but modern approach to the timeless songcraft of yesteryear. But if there were ever doubts about whether there was a place in the wider musical pantheon for these torch-bearers for keeping it real both in and outside of the studio, Blues Pills have obliterated them with commanding musicianship and a penchant for writing harpoon-sized hooks, proving time and time again that among rock fans there nothing more important than the quality of the songs themselves. It has now been nearly ten years since the stalwart Swedes stormed the scene with their blues-laden and soulful approach to rock and roll and they’ve shown no signs of slowing down. But if the swagger and fist-in-the-sir gusto of their 2014 self- titled debut worked as a bold statement of intent, it’s the consistency of their output – 2016’s rapturously-received Lady In Gold and 2020’s equally beloved Holy Moly! – that’s kept them in the frame, but now they’re ready to push the bar even further with their fourth studio release.