CD REVIEW: THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW by THE REX CARROLL BAND

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW 
by The Rex Carroll Band
(Retroactive Record)

'That Was Then, This Now' the debut release from Chicago based trio, The Rex Carroll Band, features one of my all time favorite guitar players, Rex Carroll! My introduction to Rex Carroll was his playing in the band Fierce Heart. Since then, I've been a fan of his work with White Cross and King James. On, 'That Was Then, This Is Now', Rex Carroll delivers Texas southern blues on steroids! Sizzling lines of blues licks, killer rock riffs, and gentle but passionate use of scales and modes. Rex Carroll cuts across the landscape of the guitar heroes, plus has some solid vocal chops. Backing Rex up is the rock solid rhythm section of Antonio Acevedo on bass and Michael Feighan on drums. The chemistry that this trio have is as tight as a licked stamp on an envelope. The album opens with,  "Find A Way" and right off the bat the trio set the pace of the smoking blues rock explosion that awaits! Proving that "shredders" have a place in the Blues genre, Rex serves up, "Foolgood" a scorcher of a instrumental piece that Rex' s fingers set his fretboard on fire! That is a great set up for the next track, "Working Man Blues" loaded with some serious riffage. Other highlights include; "Rock My World", "Witch Dr. Bones", "My Train" and the album closing, "Thrown Them Bones". Definitely some smoking guitar work on 'That Was Then, This Is Now'. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. If you enjoy blues-based hard rock, fiery guitar playing and incredibly soulful ballads, check this album out now. If you're a fan of Joe Bonamassa and his work with Black Country Communion, check this album out now. If you're a fan of dearly missed blues-rockers Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, please, check out, ' That Was Then, This Is Now' by The Rex Carroll Band now! It is loaded with smoking hot blues with grooves as deep as quick sand, add to that a serious dose of Ghost chili guitar shredding served up for your enjoyment! Trust me, you won't regret it. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine