If Bill Steer is capable of performing lates60s/early 70s 'bluesy' Rock after his 'deeds' with the Carcass 'mob', then I may not get caught in such a big surprise if a feature band/project of his pays tribute to the early MC5 days. Nonetheless, when guitarist/singer Mr Steer records an album then - read below - it is obvious the output will be of (at least) respected quality. It's time for the firebird to land upon us, offering scripts from the past.
Three years before, the UK band's third release No.3 was not as 'solid' as this one. No need to keep in touch with the present, Hot Wings dives hard into the Blues Rock path of more than 35 years ago. I no longer believe that - even die-hard e.g. Steer followers - will have the will to follow him in this journey, too. Deriving from the creations of acts like Humble Pie, Canned Heat, the extraordinary Johnny Winter and Cream or (later, historically) Mahogany Rush, Hot Wings is riff-'full' and comes directly from Steer's guts. Miles away from the vast majority of technology-'addicted' albums of today, this collection of 'bluesy' Hard Rock songs has nothing to do with Pro-Tools stuff etc. A live-in-the-studio recording that exposes 'blues' Hard Rock fire; Steer's singing is a 'kiss of life' for the soul searching of any fan addicted to that era. I Wish You Well, Carousel, Flying Blind and Misty Morning are a 'click' upwards in a set of equally good songs.
It's a pity Firebird and Hot Wings have limited chance of being spread into wider Rock audiences. There are many people around fifty that would cherish such a release. Hot Wings is not that applicable to metalheads; you have to own pieces of pre-Black Sabbath music in your collection, you know. Still, for everyone familiar in prior with a) Firebird and b) late 60s Rock music, you should have this one. I - myself - like it even better than No.3.