Photo: Matt Barnes
Born in Wales, raised in Toronto, and currently based in Los Angeles, blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Philip Sayce unveils his new album, The Wolves Are Coming.
Sayce shares, “I am so excited about this record and where I am at this time. These new songs represent my personal journey since the release of Spirit Rising and my commitment to growing as a musician and a human being. I am grateful to have realized my vision for this record by incorporating these stellar musicians, songs carefully penned, and my determination around the overall creative process.”
He adds, “These songs and stories came into focus during my darkest times. ‘The Wolves Are Coming’ represents a bridge — a connection between despair and hope — that invites broken spirits to be transformed and healed.”
Recorded at Station House Studios in Los Angeles with Grammy-winning engineer Mark Rains, the album was produced by Sayce, mixed by Brian Moncarz, and released via Sayce’s label, Atomic Gemini, with exclusive license to Forty Below Records.
Appearing on the album are drummers Michael Leasure, Aaron Sterling, and Fritz Lewak, along with Fred Mandel on piano and organ, and vocalist Bernie Barlow.
Courtesy of his parents, who introduced him to the music of Albert King, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Jeff Healey, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck, once Sayce picked up a guitar and started playing, something magical happened.
Jeff Healey heard the teenage Sayce playing in Toronto. Not long after, Sayce was touring the world with Jeff Healy’s band. After that, Sayce performed on Uncle Kracker’s album No Stranger to Shame, featuring “Drift Away,” a song that topped the Billboard charts for 28 weeks. He toured and recorded with Melissa Etheridge, and during this time, Sayce found time to record his first solo album, Peace Machine, with co-producer Michael Nielsen.
Of the 11 tracks comprising The Wolves Are Coming, high points include opener “Oh! That Bitches Brew,” a song that ebbs and rises ferociously while at the same time dripping out scorching savors of down and dirty, howling blues rock. A psychedelic interlude infuses the tune with Jimi Hendrix-like lysergic surfaces.
“Lady Love Divine” shifts the sound, rolling out on a funky groove topped by potent vocals, and features raw, blistering licks on the solo section. A personal favorite because of its luscious, drifting flow, “It’s Over Now” glides on washes of gospel-laced blues, revealing the relief found in releasing the aching anguish of life.
“It’s over now / It’s over now / I let go of the pain / Washed away all the shame / My heart was torn / But I weathered the storm / It’s over now.”
At once visceral and drenched in Sayce’s snarling guitar, “The Moon Is Full” pumps out waves of wickedly grimy blues tones, infusing the tune with a wild reckless feel. “Backstabbers” captures the essential sound of Philip Sayce, providing listeners with a growling, sneering riff, highlighted by a nastily incandescent solo that reeks of blues-laden, shivering passions.
With The Wolves Are Coming, Philip Sayce single-handedly puts the oomph back into blues rock, the kind that curls your toes.
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