I’ve been sent a couple of cd’s from Lion Music (www.lionmusic.com), a review of the first one “Monsters” by Brave New World is already online and this is the second one features Iain Ashley Hersey entitled “The Holy Grail”. And the label have sent this to the right guy for a review, if for no other reason than on three or four tunes, it features Carsten Schulz (Domain, Evidence One). Schulz, to my ears is currently the best singer in the world of Melodic Rock. Before I go off on a tangent about what a talent Carsten is, I’ll stick to the job in hand. 

The press release highlights Hersey’s desire to keep things simple, the less is more approach is a refreshing change and the album is built around this concept. As a guitar player he has a retro feel, blues based in a Hendrix/Blackmore/Beck vein. Very tasty, restrained playing with a very fluid quality. He’s surrounded himself with some talented singers, Carsten Schulz, Graham Bonnet and David Montgomery and the musical landscape takes on an early Rainbow, Whitesnake and Deep Purple quality. The Hammond organ keeps things nostalgic and yet the overall production retains a live warmth. Graham Bonnet takes the title track and the voice is unmistakable, but it’s obvious that the tune isn’t written around him, Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan or even Ronnie James Dio could have made the tune their own but Bonnet’s contribution is top notch. In fact, the perfect foil to IAH’s immense guitar work, but don’t get the idea that this is just another guitar talent showcasing his own skill. “The Holy Grail” is a collection of fine songs in their own right, just polished by some tasteful playing to enhance the message. 

Stand out tracks for me are difficult to single out, Schulz and Bonnet are both in good form on “Empty Planet” and “Going Down” respectively, but Hersey’s own voice on “Walking The Talk” shows no little talent in the vocal direction. Based on the evidence of this one track, he could easily take all the other tunes in the live arena and with the inclusion of JS Bach’s Toccata in D Minor as a solo offering, IAH stands out as a talent with huge respect for his musical roots. Overall a quality recording and music that I’d love to see live in a small club, simplistic yet warm tunes that offer a blend of virtuosity and soul.

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Let us know your views on 'The Holy Grail'

Track List

Blood of Kings
In the Light
To the Sea
Blink of an Eye
Empty Planet
Lost and Foolish
Calling for the Moon
Toccata in D Minor
Going Down
Walking the Talk
The Holy Grail
Auf Wiedersehen

Line Up

Iain Ashley Hersey - Guitar/Bass/Keyboards
Graham Bonnet - Vocals
David  Montgomery - Vocals
Randy Williams - Vocals
Carsten 'Lizard' Schulz - Vocals
Tony Medeiros - Drums
Dave Sutton - Bass
Paulo Gustavo- Bass
Philip Wolfe - Keyboards
Harlan Spector - Keyboards
Jim Austin - Keyboards