First up is the titular "All Hell Breaks Loose". A great rock song, it has all of the danger and outlaw-charm of Lynott's Lizzy. Singer Ricky Warwick echoes Lynott, but has his own style and charm, it never feels like an imitation, more like a tribute. Scott Gorham sounds just a ferocious on this track as he did during his days with Lizzy in the 1970s and 1980s, great guitar work. Easily my favorite song on the album, it definitely begins with a bang. Next is "Bound For Glory". The most Lizzy-esque track on the album, there is no mistaking the influence of Lynott on this song. But when someone's influence is Phil Lynott, that can only be a good thing. The song also marks the return of the classic Lizzy "twin leads" on guitar, a very familiar sound, almost like the rock and roll equivalent of comfort food. I really liked the song, very uplifting, catchy, and a perfect tribute to the legacy of Lizzy.
The Irish roots of the band are kept alive with "Kingdom Of The Lost". I really like the celtic-rock riff, as heavy as "Emerald" or "Black Rose", both classic Lizzy tracks. Almost like the "Dropkick Murphys", it has a definite celtic-punk feel to it. A great track, Scott Gorham's solo is mind-blowing, one of the best he has ever written. "Bloodshot" is not one of my favorite tracks on the album. While I really like the guitar-sound and Celtic-tinged riff, the chorus feels somewhat anti-climatic, failing to repeat the catchy quality of the first three tracks. Not bad, just fairly average. "Kissin' The Ground" features a pretty tasty riff, very heavy. But, then the song heads into a very poppy chorus. I find the contrast a bit awkward, very disjointed. Warwick's singing is great, but the lyrics are fairly cliche and somewhat lame. Gorham and guitarist Damon Johnson deliver some very nice twin leads, but it's not enough to save this one for me. Not terrible, just fairly run of the mill hard rock.
"Hey Judas" could have easily been written by Phil Lynott. I could do without the tacky acoustic guitar on the track, but the riff and leads really are on fire, very heavy and muscular, like Lizzy was. The lyrics are the best on the album, not as poetic as Lynott (impossible!), but very well-written and innocent and sweet like many of Lynott's compositions. A great classic rocker, a respectable tribute to Lynott and his legacy, while at the same time forging something more modern and aggressive. "Hoodoo Voodoo" failed to catch my attention, again lacking any real chorus, an essential element of Lizzy/BSR song, it's all about the build-up, and not much build-up here. Also the backing vocals sound fairly ridiculous, saying "Hoodoo Voodoo" in a ZZ-Top-like voice over and over again, very distracting. "Vally Of The Stones" kicks up a storm with a very heavy and fast riff. Like later period Thin Lizzy, it's very heavy metal. I really like the track, a great riff, fantastic bass from Marco Mendoza, and great lyrics, very reminiscent of something Lynott would write. One of the best songs on the album, great stuff.
"Someday Salvation" shows the influence of fellow Northern Irish rocker (Warwick is Northern Irish) Van Morrison (an influence on Lynott, of course). Pretty poppy, it's not really my cup of tea. Certainly not bad, but I find it lacks the "bite" of so many of the songs on this album. While it's nice to slow it down it bit, it feels a bit of sorts on this album of heavy rockers. "Before The War" brings Clash-like staccato guitar jabs. I really like the break-down riff, a great solo, and solid drumming. A decent song about the bonds created in military settings. "Blues Ain't So Bad" is a pretty standard blues-influenced rocker. I find the song a bit too modern, heading somewhat into "Nickelback" territory, with fairly generic lyrics, and a very modern guitar sound. One of the weaker songs on the album, fairly boiler-plate.
"All Hell Breaks Loose" has moments of brilliance. We will never be able to hear what Phil Lynott might have done musically had he lived into his old age. I can imagine it would not be too far off from this collection of songs, but who really knows. In any case, "All Hell Breaks Loose" is a fitting tribute the legacy and Thin Lizzy, despite containing a few average tracks. I would recommend this album to fans of Lizzy, and of hard rock in general.
Rating-7.5/10
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