WELL HERE'S A SURPRISE! Tony Mitchell's Kiss Of The Gypsy are here and to celebrate their 30^th anniversary they've dropped this surprise album for us all to feast upon. Boasting a solid ten tracks, it's hard to think of a better way to celebrate really! The album kicks off with an awesome hard rocking riff in "Eye Of The Hurricane" which introduces us to the throaty guitar tone that remains solid throughout the album. With a catchy little chorus, "Eye Of The Hurricane" is the ideal opener and Tony's raspy vocals sit nicely in the mix to really drive that chorus into your ears. It's worth mentioning how seamlessly Nigel's bass work locks in with Neil's drumming. You can really sense the experience that these guys have on their backs.

Onto "Duty To Party" which is really a continuation of the energy set by the opening track. With catchy hooks and a blistering solo, it's a wholesome track all round. The third track "Runaways" was released as a single for the album and it does represent the band's sound very well. If you were to listen to this track in passing, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Tony's voice for Joe Elliott. "Too Much Love" is a steely ballad with great power and determination. The track provides the perfect break to take a breather and absorb what's been heard so far.

"Remedy" is perhaps my favourite track on the album. Is that a bag of money I hear shaking in the background or just a tambourine haha? Whatever it is, it's always the little details that make a song great. "Remedy" is brilliantly energetic as a result. Impeccable song writing here. "Taking Care Of Business" continues the same energy but with a slightly sharper edge to it somehow. It's got a grittier riff to it and the down tuned guitars really shine through here with Tony and Paul's skills at the forefront of the strength that this track has. Darrel's contributions on piano are a wonderful addition to the next track "Foolin". Piano might not be everyone's cup of tea but it definitely gives this songs a boost and helps to give it an upbeat mood.

My least favourite track on the album, if I had to pick one, is probably "Sin City Blues". I can't help feeling it's a bit of an afterthought and doesn't quite fit the vibe of the album. However, it rocks in its own way. It would suit perfectly for scene on a motorbike cruising through the Nevada desert. Cool tune. "Time To Heal" is a lovely, soft, meaningful stroll of a song. Maybe it does lack a bit of energy, but at the right moment it will really pull on the heart strings and send shivers down your spine. The perfect way to end this album would be to leave a lasting impression on the listener, and they achieved this with "Wild Horses". The perfect compliment to the album, it leaves it on a high note that's high enough to bring on a sense of elation but not so high that it's tiring to endure. It rewards the listener with a beautifully catchy chorus to bring this episode to a close.

In summary, the boys really know how to piece an album together. Everything from the song writing right down to the order of the tracks themselves is excellent. And for a band that's getting on now, they've certainly still got plenty of energy left in them.