Catching up with a good friend of mine at the Rebellion Festival recently, the conversation ended up with us discussing the previous night's headlining performance from the Heavy Metal Kids and in particular the impressive display from their on/off frontman and full time guitarist Justin McConville.  My mate who also just happens to be the frontman of a legendary punk band hadn't actually caught the performance I was gushing about but he had seen one of the band's previous shows where in his eyes it was plainly obvious that even with 'Nasty Nick' out front the band member pulling the songs up to the standard required to carry the mountainous Gary Holton legend was in fact Scotland's very own walking bandana.  Someone who in his words was "a real diamond of a find for the Kids".  And you know what he might just have a point there.

So why am I recounting this conversation here I hear you wonder?  Well the JMC who has recorded this here album 'A Seventh State Of Mind' is the very same Justin McConville who from time to time fronts one of the greatest rock 'n' roll band's the UK has ever produced, and does so with such aplomb.

Recorded in a North London studio over a two year period, this nine track CD is a spiritual journey into the mind of the multi instrumentalist that takes in many musical styles and throws open the undoubtedly talented Justin's songbook for us all to savour.  Blending mid tempo heavy metal riffs with flash guitar playing as he does on album opener 'Falls Of The Minefield' Justin seems as equally at home here even if his usually more raucous vocal is hidden behind layers of guitars, this is also true on tracks like 'One True Mind' and 'Those Cold Emotions' where a slightly grungey edge is added to the vocal tone for the sake of the song.

To be fair this is all pretty decent stuff, however with the track 'Stranger In The Mirror' Justin himself pretty much sums up how I feel about his solo musings as when I'm playing this it simply doesn't feel like these songs were written by the same guy who beams from ear to ear when he's playing in the Heavy Metal Kids, its all too...dare I say it...serious.  An odd critical observation you might think but then when I also clock an earful of the RHCP meets Frank Zappa funk of 'Beer' I also start to wonder if Justin might actually see more than one stranger looking back at him when he looks in the mirror, as here his socially aware lyrical themes are quickly forgotten for an almost Zoot worthy anthem that adds a quick burst of Eddie Van Halen guitar just for good measure.

The real highlights of 'A Seventh State Of Mind' are though when Justin the rock 'n' roller appears, as he does on 'Me And My Machine' and album closer 'Taking Me Home', the latter track actually sounding like 'Killed By Death' being covered by AC/DC if they were fronted by Marc Storace.  Personally I would love to hear more of this type of stuff from Justin as he does it so well, and rather perversely I'd also like to hear more of his acoustic noodlings like those captured on the delicate mid album instrumental 'Five Minutes Ago'.

All in all then 'A Seventh State Of Mind' is a mixed bag of metal/rock styles that will probably leave the average Heavy Metal Kids fan scratching their heads in frustration at the lack of rock 'n' roll on offer.  However if your CD collection has more of a leaning towards rock guitarist's solo albums then you should definitely give 'A Seventh State Of Mind' a try as there is plenty of great playing for you to get your fangs into.

Me, I'm still wondering what this all means for the future of the Heavy Metal Kids as I was back at Rebellion.  Anyone knowing the answer please contact me at the usual address.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justin-McConville-Music/169633582394