Bush
The Kingdom

Among the most criticized in the early nineties grunge wave (mainly for exploiting Nirvana's peak for chart success), Bush, with an increasingly central Gavin Rossdale, have surprisingly proven to be one of the most enduring bands from that circle, releasing their eighth studio album "The Kingdom".

Originally titled "The Mind Plays Tricks On You" and slated for last year, the new work (like many others during the full Covid crisis) faced several delays, partly due to the addition of a couple of tracks, one of which is the second single "Flowers On A Grave", a splendid blast that opens the album perfectly. Even the last original member, drummer Robin Goodridge, left a year ago, and he has been replaced by Nik Hughes, who has become a permanent member (although, except for two tracks, the album was recorded by Gil Sharone).

The newcomers have indeed given the songs a different approach, inspired (as Rossdale anticipated) by the metal bands with which Bush have shared stages in recent years: the sound has therefore become much harder and thicker (also thanks to the production of Tyler Bates, an associate of Marilyn Manson), with spikes close to metal like in the case of the title track and "Quicksand" (somewhere between System Of A Down and early Papa Roach). It is therefore a partial return to the origins, partial because the change of drummer leads to a much more essential rhythm section, aligning with the aforementioned influences; thus, the rhythmic tangles of Goodridge, which gave the tracks a more peculiar cut, disappear, but given the new sound, it’s not a bad thing at all.

"The Kingdom" is also the album where the excellent guitarist Chris Traynor finally takes center stage, delivering a series of inspired riffs ("Blood River", the standout track by far, but also "Send In The Clowns"), and of course, it all crowns Rossdale's beautiful voice, always at the forefront (sometimes even too much, especially in the final part of the album). The epic ballad "Undone" is not missing, following in the footsteps of "Glycerine" and "All Night Doctors".

Even Corey Britz's bass has its moment of glory in "Bullet Holes", a single and also the main soundtrack of "John Wick 3" starring Keanu Reeves (a longtime friend of Rossdale, who acted with him in the cult "Constantine"): the track starts as an homage to "Bullet The Blue Sky" before exploding into a thunderous refrain, with the usual Traynor in the spotlight.

Really a great comeback for the London band.

Best track: "Blood River"