I’ve got to admit when I was a lot younger I used to listen all sorts of music but, as time went on, I had definitely reached the point were my broad mind and narrow waist were exchanging places. That all changed however when I started reviewing for HardRockHouse and Steve tried to get me out of rut. And he has succeed. Bands like B* Movie Heroes are the type of outfit I would not gone out of my way to listen to in the past, but then that would have been my loss. 

B* Movie Heroes have recorded several EP’s but, I believe this is the bands full length debut. Upon first listen my initial thoughts were this is good and that to some extent the band have similarities with early Def Leppard, not in terms of sound or songs but rather in terms of the arrangements employed. B* Movie Heroes have built their songs around loads of guitar riffs that sound relatively simple and couple the guitars with a multitude of harmony and big backing vocals giving the band a big rock sound with  pop pretensions. Mind you as well as Def Leppard you can easily discern influences from the like of The Wildhearts, Foo Fighters, Velvet revolver and even Therapy. 

Having said all that, 'Intro reminds of The Who before the band blast into catchy as hell 'Cash Cow' which has a chorus that will get in your head and not get out as well as featuring some of the biggest "yeahs" ever put down on tape, the guitar solo is tasteful as well. 'Another Broken Machine' is driven along by drums and guitar certainly brings to mind a  Foo Fighters/Velvet Revolver hybrid with Ginger-esque vocals. 

'My Apology' is a great stonking mother of a track once it gets going and the chorus could catch Moby Dick and then comes 'Tragic Lifestyles' which is driven along by a pounding bass line and features yet more Wildhearts inspired guitar work. 'Blood Is (Thicker Than Wine) however is a complete left turn, being an acoustic based track and is a well timed change of pace after the opening barrage. 

'Livin The Lie'  blasts back with big drums and heavy guitars in a punk rock style that runs along at 100mph and 'James Dean' perhaps sees the band at their most Velvet Revolver like on the album, so much so you could almost be listening to Contraband. 'Bitter Sweet Sedation' is one of those annoying tracks that, on first hearing, you would swear blind you’ve heard somewhere before but cannot place and is yet another cracking song, albeit a bit more mid-tempo in pacing. 

'No Way Out' opens like a thrash metal number, think Trivium, before the vocals kick in and the track changes style and pace and drops into a mid place plodder that is just okay. Another change in pace then brings 'November New Year', the second acoustic based track on the album and a song that is again well placed in the running order and is, in fact, rather a good power ballad. Rounding out the album are the pairing of 'Violence Breeds Violence' and  'Stop Killing Me'. The former for some strange reason brings Bradford's finest Terrorvision to mind, albeit in a more serious mode whilst the latter is a song driven along by the bass of Russ Carlin and a catchy guitar riff which brings thinks to a fine conclusion. 

On the evidence of This band may only be B* Heroes at the moment but if they can keep this quality up more than likely they will find themselves on the A List very very soon.

Let us know your views on 'Calibrate'

Track List

Intro
Cash Cow
Another Broken Machine
My Apology
Tragic Lifestyles
Blood Ss (Thicker Than Wine)
Livin The Lie
James Dean
Bitter Sweet Sedation
No Way Out
November New Year
Violence Breeds Violence
Stop Killing Me

Line Up

Neil Phillips (guitars/vocals)
Scott Garrett (drums)
Russ Carlin (bass/ vocals)
Dean McCreadie (guitars / vocals)