Deep Dark Demon
Gulf Coast, 2020
8/10
Mark May has kept himself quite busy during his two decade career playing blues rock, and here he returns with his 7th album where he recruits plenty of varied influences into his technical and timeless song craft.
“Harvey’s Dirty Side” starts the album with robust blues riffs alongside soulful organs as May finds himself in playfu,l classic rock influenced territory, and “BBQ And Blues” continues the setting with plenty of rhythm amid the bouncy, retro fun.
Further on, the title track offers incredible guitar work as some of the best singing accompanies the powerful, gritty album highlight, while “Sweet Music” brings no shortage of melody to the busy rocker. “My Last Ride”, another standout tune, then bridges blues and rock’n’roll with much cautious instrumentation that points at traces of Southern Rock.
The album ends on a high note, with the vocal harmonies of the calm, ballad friendly “Something Good”, where hints of country are present, and “Invisible Man” exits the listen with some experimental ideas, plenty of fluid organ and dynamic funk prowess we won’t soon forget.
May has been playing guitar since the age of 5, and cut his teeth playing with Dickey Betts and Walter Trout, and it shows in his versatile and extremely precise execution that makes Deep Dark Demon yet another eclectic and essential blues record from the Gulf Coast Label.
Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- Wild And Free; Billy Price- Dog Eat Dog