Reviewed by Paul Loader

Vienna-based rockers My Glorious were formed out of the ashes of Austrian rock band Fresh in January 2008. However, they have not exactly risen like the Phoenix, more like blown the top off like an angry volcano. Fresh had been growing in popularity over their seven-year existence and they had toured large chunks of Europe and performed alongside the likes of Delirious! on many occasions. However, when two of the band, including the lead singer, decided that they didn't want to be rock stars anymore the three remaining members decided to continue and My Glorious was born. Made up of twins Gregor and Paul (and no they don't look alike) on bass and drums and UK-born Sami on guitar and vocals the band have been performing their garage sound to an excited crowd and already beginning to make a name for themselves. They have just returned from a three week tour of the USA and have been making friends and fans out of artists such as former members of Audio Adrenaline and singer/songwriterr Nathan Wesley Smith. Back in Austria My Glorious are introducing themselves to the world with the release of a six-track EP called 'Leper'. Hearing the EP for the first time was quite a shock. Fresh's album had been well polished, well produced and smooth. 'Leper' sounds like the band have stuck a mic in the middle of a garage and gone for it, and I love it. It's raw and passionate. Bass and drums thump away on every track giving Sami a solid floor on which to place his rattled guitar tracks and bellow out his vocals. Sami isn't a natural singer, but it makes it all the better as far as I'm concerned as it adds to the rawness and the genuine feeling of the songs. "All I Ever Do" is a great example of this as the combination of the Spartan guitars, the thudding bass and the thwack of a single snare drum gives the impression of pain. I had a real sense of Bruce Springsteen's 'Philadelphia' through the opening verse. "Fire" has Sami sounding a little like Lou Reed and opening track "Give Me Time" has a crashing guitar, which adds to the scaled down innocence of the song.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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