Burning Condors - Love on the Rocks

by John Clarkson

published: 30 / 7 / 2013

Label: Snakehand Records
Format: 7"

Energetic country punk on seven inch vinyl only third single from London-based band, Burning Condors

Review

Burning Condors are a country punk outfit from London, who have already released two singles, 'Honey Trap' and the double A-sided 'Knockout/Riot in the Streets', and whose debut album 'Round Our Way' is due out in September. 'Love on the Rocks', their third single, is also their first release on 7" vinyl. Lo-fi and scuzzy in sound, the A side -not to be confused with the Neil Diamond song of the same name - is about the sex wars and set from within the context of a one night start. Klaxoning, stop-start guitars bounce up against a yelped, frantic vocal from front man Marcus 'Tommy' Thompson. As 'Love on the Rocks' moves into its second half, it starts to slow down, only to speed suddenly up again in its final few seconds. The B side, a cover of Johnny Cash's classic 'Folsom Prison Blues'', maintains the dark humour of the original. While Cash's version had an unpolished beauty, Burning Condors' cover, with its grungy-sounding guitars and Thompson's furious vocals, is even more rough-edged still. Burning Condors are as raw-sounding as they are fiery. It shines through that they had a lot of fun making 'Love on the Rocks'. As impressive and enjoyable as it is, one is left thinking, however, because all the energy of this single that Burning Condors are probably even better still in the live arena, and that there they must be totally outstanding.