As time is running through our endless walk towards the future, we can see trends coming and going. As I say time and time again, they have a very bad point: the flood of bands doing the same music is a boring phenomenon, because you have the sensation of hearing the same band endlessly. To some, it can be a very good thing, but experienced people on Metal and Rock, it's annoying. But in these times, some good names can appear, as STRAY TRAIN is here to proove with "Blues from Hell, the Legend of the Courageous Five". With a long name like this, the album must be good.

The band plays a fine mix of the greasy and heavy Classic Rock from the 60s and 70s with some Hard/Glam Metal influences (due the hooking choruses, and simple and good musical harmonies). Their melodies are fine, with a very good technical insight, a great amount of musical weight, and the instruments and vocals are all in their due places. Although it's nothing that so new, it's good for our ears. On the sound quality resides their secret: unlike many bands from this same trend that prefer to use a moldy and raw sound, they have chosen something that sounds organic like in the past (it must be due the capitation and sound gears they use), but with a clear aesthetics. Yes, it sounds pretty fine.

On their 12 songs, they show a good work and talent to go further and explore musical possibilities. But for now, songs as the heavy and melodic "Electrified"(very good chorus and vocals), the fine harmonies and heavy insight of "Heading for the Sun" (fine guitar riffs), the raw energy and rhythmic work shown on "Days Gone" (bass guitar and drums are really excellent here), the heavy and bluesy ones "Blues from Hell" and "My Baby's Ride", and the catchy melodies of "No Easy" are samples of a good name that is on the rise, and they will give you tons of fun for hours.

I truly hope to hear more of them in the future, but for now, "Blues from Hell, the Legend of the Courageous Five" is a good album that deserves to be heard carefully by all Metal fans. You can find on it what you were searching for.