POINT BLANK – Volume 9 (CD)

When the going gets tough, the tough keep on rockin’. Point Blank is one of the core units of high-class classic southern rock. They released the self-titled debut in 1976 and were handled by ZZ Top’s manager, Bill Ham. Especially their first two albums are still among my all-time favorite albums. The later releases were also good, but the southern rock had now become a bit more AOR-oriented. After the album American Excess in 1981, the band disappeared. Then, lo and behold, the southern rose rose again! I had the great pleasure of seeing the band’s return to the live stage in 2007 and it was my favorite shows of the year. The return album Reloaded came out the same year, and proved they could still deliver! The band has unfortunately lost some of its original members (R.I.P), but still they have now returned with another slab of southern steel! Singer John O’Daniel and guitarist Rusty Burns are still standing and they still deliver! Volume 9 features some serious rock hard rockers such as the instrumental opener Blast, Howling Wolf, Automobile, Johnny Dallas, Start The Car and To Be A Man, which show the band is still a force to be reckoned with. Point Blank have always included a few ballads that were on the verge of being a bit too pop or country for me, but they still work. This album is no exception, apart from Heart Of A Fool which is a bit over the edge for me, but it's most likely because of the sax (for some reason I just hate sax). Fans of southern rock – there’s no hesitating – get it and get it now!

Janne Stark

Label: Fairway Records

Country: USA

Year: 2014