ERIC BELL – Exile

Legendary guitarist Eric Bell, one of the founding members of the mighty Thin Lizzy, has returned with a strong, atmospheric, and well-written album that is quite the moving affair.

The ten tracks that constitute "Exile" all possess that haunting and melancholic Northern Irish vibe that makes you want to come back to these tunes over and over again. The bluesy licks and riffs, the folk-like melodies, and the moods that remind me of the timeless debut album by Thin Lizzy, are all firmly in place on "Exile", and the album works wonders for my mind whenever I listen to it. The emotionally charged "Song for Gary", which is a tribute to the late Gary Moore, and the incredibly heartfelt "Gotta Say Bye Bye" are simply excellent through and through while "Vote for Me" is slightly more hard-edged and raw with a latent bitterness to it. "Rip It Up" is uplifting rock ‘n’ roll all the way while "Concrete Jungle" is one of the catchiest and most entertaining songs to be found on the album.

Bell’s voice is strong throughout the album, sometimes soothing, sometimes booming and slightly rough around the edges. Either way, it suits the song material perfectly. The lyrics sound honest and sincere, which makes some of the stories that Bell chronicles through his songs all the more intense.

"Exile" is a diverse and dynamic affair that perfectly illustrates just how talented Eric Bell truly is. Every song just seem to flow, kind of like a good story does. The warm and organic sound is an absolute joy to absorb and listen to. This album not only appeals to all the self-respecting Thin Lizzy fans out there, but to lovers of blues rock, folk rock, and hard rock in general.

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