The 'vintage 70s' revival; Nomad's class is unveiled even from the first notes of Nicotine Dreams and - throughout the whole CD - time will pass by in full bliss if you're into the likes of DEEP PURPLE, Pat Travers, LED ZEPPELIN, Glenn Hughes, CREAM and RAINBOW (and URIAH HEEP?). Should hurry up and look for the man's previous albums, Fallen Angel and The Holy Grail, now. Did you know the guitarist named Iain Ashley Hersey?
I didn't. A real hardworker in order to become a well-respected axeman (student at Musician's Institute in Hollywood plus studied at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston) he has come up with a 'traditional' 70s Hard rock style, better described by the man himself: It's kind of a Heavy Blusey Classic Rock with a hint of Fusion overtones. Sounds typical but as soon as you insert Nomad in your CD player and push 'play' you'll remember your adoration for the style/sound pioneered in Great Britain three decades ago.
The thing that grabbed me by the balls was - at first - the sound of the album. Totally 'old' but not retromaniac. The same goes - next - for the guitarist's playing. You'll anyway notice Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck/Pat Travers in his technique, still no copycat summary will you come up with. Iain Ashley Hersey has worked so much on the structure of the songs as total pieces that limited are the chances to feel loaded with a 'guitar expertice' display. With the valuable help of Doogie White (Yngwie Malmsteen), Jochen Mayer (CASANOVA, DEMON DRIVE, DOMAIN), Frank Kraus (DEMON DRIVE), Paul Logue (EDEN's CURSE) and Holger Seeger (MIDNITE CLUB) the result is a set of songs in a variety of tempos and melodies that will, no question, gain your interest as long as you are an admirer/follower of the 70s British Rock sound (the harmonies of BLUE OYSTER CULT may come in mind, too).
A word or two for some tracks: Sacrifice The Sun features a tremendous melodic line in the basic riff, Vintage Love is as 'melodic' as it can get in that style (what a simple yet striking chorus!), Bloody Waters's mild atmosphere shall offer great inner tranquility (if Axel Rudi Pell used this sound he'd cross Iain Ashley Hersey's likes) with an immense 'wide feeling' guitar solo and When Will My Love Fade shows traces of American Rock sentiment in a semi-Joe Lynn Turner mode. The take on RAINBOW's LA Connection is of good quality; years passed by since the last time I listened to this one...it was a nice surprise (SAXON's Biff Byford would kick ass in this one!).
Iain Ashley Hersey has released a wonderful 70s Hard Rock album. Looking into Nomad you'll see the luxurious simplicity of meaningful guitars, lukewarm vocals and ear-catching music in general. Do not pass by if shaking your head to the above saying.