"This album is going to turn heads, as well as making 'em bang."
ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!
GMT's first album "Bitter & Twisted" is out now.
Available for UK release through Cadiz/ Pinnacle Distribution.
(Cat No FIRK112 Barcode 5060066551125)
To listen to tracks from "Bitter & Twisted
MEDIA REVIEWS:
A
hard rockin’ trio made up of Bernie Tormie (Guitar/Vocals); John
McCoy (Bass) & Robin Guy (Drums) who between them have played with
and been members of bands with the likes of Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne, Dee
Snider, Mammoth & Sack Trip. Now it’s time to show us what
they can do in their own musical unit.
This is an album that is on
11 from the start – it blows up in your face and pulls no punches
throughout. There are literally loads of great songs on here - take the
heavy-weight opener ‘Cannonball’ as a brilliant example;
the deep-rooted ‘Rocky Road (from Dublin) that has Ireland all
over it; the old-school Saxon-esque ‘Can’t beat rock
‘n’ roll’ – you never can dude.
You can simply not get tired of playing this album from time to time as
there is a lot of variety to as opposed to one single rock genre. I
love the way in ‘Miss the Buzz’ (excellent play on words by
the way) that they mix kinda proggy-blues with a late Beatle-like
arrangement or go for an atmospheric Doorsy vibe in
‘Summerland’ that also has the power of a heavy-ripping who
number at the right moment. Then there’s the extravagant
‘Vincenzo’ that closes the CD.
A real glower and grower of an album – looking forward to seeing
them live and hearing the next release from GMT !
10/10
By Glenn Milligan www.metalliville.com
" When
is a “supergroup” really a supergroup? Is it when all the
names of the players are well known? Is it when the band is made up of
guys that are simply superior musicians? Really…what is more of
a “supergroup” – the late 80s band Contraband that
featured members of Shark Island, LA Guns, Vixen and MSG; or Dream
Theater that features arguably the most talented collection of
musicians ever assembled? Maybe the answer lays somewhere in the
middle. Maybe a supergroup is defined by guys with strong pedigree that
also can flat out play their asses off. If that’s the case, then
GMT is one of the most solid “supergroups” ever to have
existed. Featuring one of the most underrated guitarists in the history
of hard rock and heavy metal Bernie Torme (Ozzy Osbourne Band,
Desperado), drummer Robin Guy (Bruce Dickinson, Faith No More) and
bassist John McCoy (Gillan, Atomic Rooster, Samson), the collaboration
known as GMT is not only rock solid musically, but features some good,
ol’ fashioned ass-kicker hard rock that is sure to please fans of
bands like Rose Tattoo and like sounding shit-kicker acts.
Without question, most people’s focal point on this band will be
guitarist Bernie Torme, as it really should be here. Torme is a major
league guitar player who was only stopped from being considered one of
the greatest of all time by his lack of self-promotion and
overexposure. Every project he’s ever played on has had killer
guitars, and BITTER AND TWISTED is no exception. Interestingly, he
combines a lot of musical styles here. Songs like “Miss The
Buzz” are raw, grinding guitar tunes where you literally can
envision Torme on stage just piercing a mid-sided club with his raw
sound and some very Van Halen like soloing. On other songs, like
“Down To Here”, Torme switches up into a full on, power
Blues vibe that would make the late Stevie Ray Vaughan look down from
Heaven and smile. In addition to his killer guitar work, Torme acts as
vocalist on BITTER AND TWISTED. He’s not really the best voice
you will ever here, but his “beer drinker” presentation
gives a very casual, party-like vibe to the songs. He’s solid
vocally, although he’s never going to be confused with any of the
vocal legends he’s played guitar for in the past.
While Torme is the centerpiece of the attention (and should be,
really), there is no denying that the other two musicians in GMT
deserver a great deal of credit. Robin Guy, considered by many to be
the best drummer in the UK today, is a pillar of consistency
throughout. While it could be simply the way the drums were recorded,
listening to songs like “No Justice” just leave you
thinking that Guy is hitting the drums really, REALLY hard. Not only
does he give a powerful performance here, but he’s surprisingly
polished for a player that swings his sticks like a mallet on a wall
he’s tearing down. The drumming is masterful. The same can be
said for John McCoy’s bass playing. He does far more than follow
along with Guy. Instead, his consistent undercarriage of thunder rocks
these songs firmly forward. His playing drives the previously mentioned
“Miss The Buzz” as it acts as the lead sound from which
Torme’s vocals and guitars play off off. Don’t read into
this that GMT is a series of showcase songs for individual
instrumentation though. To the contrary, each and every song sounds
like a true song where all the pieces just fit together. It’s
truly a great rock CD." (Chris Akin) Pitriff Online
The
odd couple… Sleazy punk guitarist Bernie Tormé and
heavyweight bassist John McCoy have played together before on several
occasions (most famously with GILLAN), and they’re back again in
a power trio setting, which is completed by powerhouse drummer Robin
Guy. GMT is the name and rough and ready rock & roll is the game.
Bitter & Twisted is the band’s debut album - and what
an album it is… It’s not easy to describe the style, but
you can recognize many sounds from the members’ previous bands.
There’s some classic rock, punk, blues and psychedelic
rock… The album is amazingly versatile, but whatever you call
it, it’s loud!
The energetic punky rocker
‘Cannonball’ kicks off the album in spectacular fashion.
‘Rocky Road’ has that punky attitude as well, and the
Celtic flavour in this song (à la THIN LIZZY/GARY MOORE) and the
tribal rhythm are highly appreciated – in fact, this song sounds
like a heavy version of ADAM & THE ANTS. Other great songs are the
psychedelic ‘Miss The Buzz’, the moody, bluesy ‘Down
To Here’ (with an amazing guitar solo) and the brilliant closer
‘Vincenzo’, a laughing-out-loud track which reminds me a
bit of GILLAN’s ‘No Laughing In Heaven’.
As a guitarist, Bernie Tormé can’t be equalled, and his
playing gells perfectly with McCoy’s thundering bass and
Guy’s heavy drumming. These guys really have a thing going. You
might argue that Tormé isn’t much of a singer, but then
his raw vocals are exactly what this music asks for. I’ve been
enjoying this album much more than I expected… it’s been
in my cd player for several weeks now and I just can’t get
enough. Raw, rough, rocking… if that’s what you’re
looking for in your music, GMT delivers. Fantastic album! Metal Nose
Possibly
the sleeper hit of the year for people who are tired of cookie monster
vocals and hardcore/lowcore/rotten-to-the-core, is the new CD by Bernie
Tormé, John McCoy and Robin Guy, otherwise known as GMT. GMT's
record Bitter & Twisted is simply put, phenomenal. Bernie has a
guitar sound that just warms the cockles of the heart with his
fuzz-driven, torque-y sound while John and Robin combine for a rhythm
section that is potentially combustible. The record is a true labor of
love, evident from even a cursory listen, offering up 11 perfect gems
without a note that you would think was just tossed off carelessly... Read More
"Forget
all this Dragonforce talk and the new coming of the guitar bands. Take
one listen to Bitter & Twisted by GMT to make you remember what
six-strings should sound like. Skip these 50,000 notes in one bar.
Bernie Tormé makes you forget about them all with just his tone
on 1 note. This is a new band from the ex-Gillan/Desperado/Ozzy
guitarist not mention his own bands, Electric Gypsies and
Tormé.Here he is joined by ex Gillan/Mammoth/Samson/Belladonna
bass player John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy who has been too many
bands to mention. This is a gritty guitar-driven record that is simply
a joy to listen to and one that can be enjoyed by greybeards such as me
as well as younger guitar fans.
Bitter & Twisted begins with a
furious pace on the explosive (sorry) “Cannonball”. McCoy
and Guy crank into a belligerent rhythm that sounds like a brontosaurus
locked in a tea shop. Then comes Tormé’s chainsaw guitar
that powers this entire affair. As a vocalist, Bernie will never be
confused with Bono or Ian Gillan but his voice totally fits this style
of music.
One of the best moments of the record is the adrenaline rush of the
second cut “Rocky Road”. Guy sets off the war drums at the
intro, ushering in a punk-ish type song that sounds like a cross
between Whitesnake and The Clash. There’s one of those pub
inspired choruses that sounds like a Friday night just before too many
Guinness are consumed.
The title track is excellent with a slower and nastier guitar crackling
like an electric fence, propelling this to one of the highlights of the
record. “Can’t Beat Rock N Roll” is equal to the task
with a chorus that makes you want to jump on a chair and throw the
devils horns. OK, maybe that’s just me!
Things are tempered for a bit with the bluesy “Down to
Here”, another terrific cut that sounds like early Stones.
“No Justice” takes off like galloping horses, especially on
the chorus where it threatens to run away with itself. The deadly sharp
bass of McCoy starts off “Miss the Buzz”, a solid cut with
a surprisingly great chorus.
“Longer Than Tomorrow” starts off with a riff so jagged
that my ears have abrasions. A tremendous chorus rewards the listener
along with a delicious solo that’s brief but tasty --- sort of
like a dirtier Bill Nelson.
One of the most surprising cuts and possibly the best part of this
album (though it’s hard to pick on a treasure trove like this) is
the laid back “Summerland” which is also kind of
Stones-ish. It’s a slower cut but it’s still hard to
constrain the quickly-rousted guitar of Tormé which snarls
during the choruses. An awesome cut!
The stately “DeIreadh An Samhradh” (which apparently is
Summer’s End in what I guess is Gaelic) is a gorgeous piece of
music that is all atmospheric and the only complaint is that it would
have been good to finish off the record with it. Perhaps it was
originally however, and the raucous “Vincenz O” elbowed its
way into the position. A perfect closer to end on a high note, this
song is heavy yet fluid, sort of like a a Viking in perfect pillage
mode while riding a shopping cart. Is that a bicycle bell on the final
note? What the heck, eh?
This is a surprisingly strong record. Everybody knows Bernie
Tormé can play guitar. What I and perhaps others forgot is that
he can write an awesome song as well and in fact not one, but 11 of
them. Any Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore or similar
fans out there, you absolutely have to check out this CD. It is one of
the sleeper records of the year. And for the younger set, if you want
to hear some guitar with feeling and not just a blender spewing notes,
check out a real master."
Morley Seaver, Bella Online
"Once
you pop in the rocking debut, 'Bitter & Twisted' from GMT (Guy
McCoy Torme) its like throwing a lit match in pool of gasoline! Coming
at you like a battering ram the trio unleash their rock fury with,
"Cannonball", loaded with Bernie Torme's signature dive bomb whammy bar
assault! Bernie Torme the Irish Guitar Legend and Frontman, known for
saving the day for Ozzy Osbourne when Randy Rhodes tragically died,
then with Desperado with Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider and Iron
Maiden Drummer Clive Burr. Then you have the rhythm section of McCoy
and Guy that are down right nasty! As is evident as the trio coming
rocking out of your speakers with tracks like, the balls out rocking,
"Rocky Road" and "Can't Beat Rock And Roll". Like the late Joe Strummer
and Rancid, GMT have not only embrace Punk, but elevates it to its
truest art and rawest form. Combining it around richly textured power
guitar hooks and an attitude that would bring a brama bull to its
knees. There is something incredibly special about this band that it
trancends genres. Just imagine the lads from Thin Lizzy throwing it
down and getting crazy with the boys from The Pogues only to have the
Flogging Mollys and Motorhead crash the party! 'Bitter & Twisted'
is a balls out rocker that comes highly recommended." (The Atomic
Chaser) ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE, LOS ANGELES, USA
"Bitter & Twisted" - The
title says it all and makes you think of something as raw and heavy as
gin and tonic. And the music pretty much meets your expectations! The
first chords and pounding drums of the opener Cannon Ball set the tone
for the whole record. And it doesn’t get any milder even in the
ballads as the music is a mix of hard rock and metal!
There’s
a great intention in every song; the music is so powerful that
it’s almost unbelievable it was born in between just three
people. It definitely has something to do with the chemistry!
The pearl of the record is undoubtedly Irish Guitar Legend Bernie Torme
with his creative ideas and dynamic guitar work while McCoy and Guy
make a solid backbone. Being inspired by Jimi Hendrix in mind, Torme
creates awesome virtuous guitar riffs, his solos sometimes are so
high-pitched and fast that it almost hurts your ears. Just those guitar
licks may be the reason the album is worth listening to. There’s
something interesting to be found in every one of 11 tracks.A lot of
the songs tend to sound anthemic, like Rocky Road that could've become
the pirates’ anthem had it been written a couple hundred years
ago. Raspy guitars make a creepy atmosphere and Torme’s yelling
“Hey, enough of your shite/ Buy me another pint” invites to
start a rebellion.
There’s an unexpected turn towards the end of the album in
Summerland and Deireadh An Samhradh -- very like The Doors or some
psychedelic band from the '70s -- 8-minute songs with the next one
being the end of the previous, guitar sound experiments, thunderous
drums and a child talking to finish it all. So weird that you wonder if
it’s still the same band..." // 10. Kosh (c) 2007 www.ultimateguitar.com
"t's not so much about the time as about tenacity and faithfulness.
"Cannoball": the lightning-striking opener's title says it all and sets
the tone for this fine record from the British heavy rock veterans. The
band's name comes from the names of the musicians - drummer Robin Guy,
bassist John McCoy and singing guitarist Bernie Torme - and the band's
style's the distillation of their well-known inclinations. With Guy
providing the thunderous beat for a string of fine groups, it's the
combination of Torme and McCoy that's in the focus here. Tightly
interwoven and strong as a ship rope in the midtempo sway of the title
track, their instruments were the trampoline for the GILLAN singer's
voice; Bernie's not in the same vocal category as his former employer
but with his bluesy punk roots and enigmatic John - big, bald, bearded
- a visual template for contemporary alternative metallists, their
music is vital and relevant. More so, whereas today's crop of rockers
are a superficial flock, GMT are firmly grounded and, in "Down To
Here", build their own drama from the Hendrix's balladry tools.
Sometimes, they're anthemic - live, "No Justice" will go down well with
a call-and-response with an audience, and "I Miss The Buzz" demands a
good dose of orchestration - sometimes, they're groovy enough to blast
the listeners' socks off, but GMT are always sardonic: so much for the
humor and joviality in their songs, yet it's exactly what their lyrical
diary of day-to-day social stress asks for. Still, there's a lotta fun
in the closing "Vincenzo" and a bright light in the "Summerland"
echo-ey romantic gloom. Were it not the veterans but clean-faced boys
behind these songs, the album would ferociously bite into the charts.
But this band are too bitter and too twisted which requires a good
taste to relish them." DME Music Site, Let It Rock (Classic Rock and Beyond)
"A Bitter what you fancy.
If you thought the idea of a stripped-down rock'n'rock power trio was
dead and buried in these technological times, think again. GMT (drummer
Robin Guy, bassist John McCoy and guitarist Bernie Tormé) are as
raw as untreated sewage - and just as environmentally unfriendly.
Guy and McCoy don't so much play as pound while Tormé, master of
the psychedelic shred, stamps his stumbling virtuosity on every song.
Vocal niceties are irrelevant in the face of tracks such as Cannonball
(a stuttersome stormer), Down To Here (a clunky, bluesy ballad) and the
title track (a real Van Halen-style howler). What's more it's great to
hear Tormé going back to his roots, not only on Rocky Road (From
Dublin) but also on the punktified No Justice - he was on 1977's Live
At The Vortex, after all.
Enjoy, This is as Twisted as a tornado.
*******/10 Geoff Barton, Classic Rock Magazine
"...GMT
- Guy McCoy Torme, an astonishingly powerful three-piece whose debut
album Bitter & Twisted lands harder and hits more solidly than any
straightforward rock album this year. Of course, the founding members
need no introduction. Suffice it to say, drummer Robin Guy remains as
thunderous as ever and kicks off almost every track with a wall of
sheer rythm. Bernie Torme ranked among Britain's most dynamic
guitarists for almost three decades now, and his playing remains as
distinctive as it is deliciously idiosyncratic. Lots of guitarists
claim to be able to make their guitar speak. Torme can make it dance,
sing and whistle, too, and the nonstop blitz of "Bitter & Twisted"
affords him plenty of opportunity to do so.
Key cuts abound - the
opening "Cannonball", the anthemic "Can't Beat Rock'n'Roll", the
bass-heavy "Miss The Buzz" and the evocatively peace-laden
"Summerland". But you won't want to play favorites with "Bitter &
Twisted", just turn it up as loud as it'll go and lose yourself in the
noise."
Jo-Ann Greene, Goldmine Magazine
"...This album ROCKS and then some!
From the rattling opener Canonball through to Rocky Road (From Dublin): think
Thin Lizzy meets the Pogues, this album is a sheer joy. As a three
piece they exude so much power, in fact a melodic Motorhead would be a
near comparison. Just check out Can't Beat Rock'n'Roll, awesome riffing
and one of the loudest and tightest rhythm sections you'll have heard
in a long time. Down To Here allows Torme to flex his blues guitar
playing, whilst Miss The Buzz has a pounding backbeat and very melodic
chorus, plus very funny lyrics. There is even a mini-Gillan reunion as
Colin Towns adds keys to this song and a few other tracks. Vincenzo
rounds the album off in style, another catchy tune with lots of guitar
riffs plus listen out for the telephones and piano riffs, a strange
song all round.
GMT have produced one of the best debuts I've heard
for ages and one that will still get played down through the years I am
sure.
The power trio as it should be done: no frills rock'n'roll."
****1/2
Jason Ritchie classicrocknewswire.blogspot.com
'Bitter
& Twisted' marks the welcome return of former Gillan cohorts John
McCoy and Bernie Torme and finds them in a stripped down, no frills,
power-trio with an album of few overdubs. He might not have the same
credentials as his illustrious band mates but in drummer Robin Guy they
have unearthed a real find. Having previously played with Faith No More
and Bruce Dickenson, Guy is a real powerhouse drummer and gels
perfectly with McCoy's monstrous bass sound and Torme's raw and
energetic riffs.
'Cannonball'
kicks things off and straight away you can tell this an album that begs
to be played loud, Guy immediately making his mark with some thundering
beats. For 'Rocky Road' Torme goes back to his roots, the
autobiographical lyrics a tongue-in cheek reference to his Irish
heritage and delivered in his native accent. ("Could've been diggin'
ditches, Or carryin' the hod / Down tunnels or on bridges, Far from the
eye of God / Me I'm sitting pretty, Playing my guitar / On the Rocky
Road from Dublin"). There really isn't a bad song on this album but to
pick out a couple more highlights then 'Miss The Buzz' is a great
psychedelic rocker and 'Can't Beat Rock N Roll' is an infectious
up-tempo classic rock number with some AC/DC inspired riffs and a
really catchy chorus.
The real highlight for me is the eight minute epic 'Summerland' that
kicks off with a much slower tempo than what has gone before, Bernie
taking the vocal in a very laid back style that reminds me of Robbie
Robertson. Again, the rhythm section is really tight on this one;
McCoy's driving bass well to the forefront. This really is an excellent
track, and one which I hope to see them play live in the not too
distant future. The atmospheric instrumental 'Deireadh An Samhradh
(Summer's End)' is well executed and leads into the eccentric closing
number 'Vincenzo (della Grande Pumpo del' Amore)'. A suitably
off-the-wall lyric combine with a groove heavy rhythm and is played
with a real sense of fun and enjoyment. They even manage to include a
bicycle bell in there somewhere…
'Bitter & Twisted' is a fantastic return for Torme and McCoy and on
this evidence there is plenty of life left in these two veterans of the
Rock scene. By recruiting Robin Guy and coming up with a stunning set
of original material they are certainly not playing the nostalgia card
and they really do deserve to be heard by a wide audience.
Buy this one, it's a real gem. Rating 9.5/10
Deano for www.hardrockhouse.com
What
do you get when you combine the prodigious talents of legendary Irish
guitarist Bernie Tormé (Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne, Dee Snider's
Desperado), larger than life bassist John McCoy (Gillan, Samson,
Mammoth) and wildman drummer Robin Guy (Bruce Dickinson, Faith No More,
Rachel Stamp)? Well, you get GMT, who on their debut release 'Bitter
& Twisted' have released an album that not only will peel the paint
off your walls, but will definitely perk up the ears of any fan of no
nonsense heavy rock, resulting in one of the finest records of the year
in the process.
The album roars off with
"Cannonball," a ferocious, almost speed metal track that begins with
manic riffs courtesy of Tormé sounding like Dick Dale after
ingesting an 8 ball of meth, before calming down slightly to allow the
vocals room to breathe. Underneath, Robin Guy's thundering drums and
John McCoy's rumbling bass lines combine to conjure up a wall of sound
that's both mesmerizing and captivating, propelling it along like a
speeding locomotive that's about to derail. This blistering rocker is
one of many highlights of this superlative disc, and is just a hint of
what's to come.
One aspect which truly impresses is just how musically tight these
three are. Like a well oiled machine, this is a power trio firing on
all cylinders from the get go. There's an obvious chemistry at play
here, a symmetry of which cannot be faked or forced. They're the real
deal, playing to win, and taking no prisoners. From there it continues
with a decidedly Irish bent with "Rocky Road (from Dublin)," which
mixes Celtic, Lizzy-like rhythms with the thrust of Mötorhead,
showcasing impassioned vocals from Tormé. Slowing down
marginally with the grinding riff rocker that is the title track, McCoy
and Guy interlock in a primal beat that will beat one into submission
before leading into the anthemic "Can't Beat Rock 'N' Roll," which
boasts a heavy, ZZ Top - gone - metal like riff which is sure to please
connoisseurs of slamming heavy rock. Catchy and memorable from the
start, this is certainly another highlight on display here, and would
be perfect for radio play."Down To Here" exhibits fantastic guitar work
ala Hendrix, and is a great showcase which shows that Tormé
hasn't lost his gift for coming up with memorable lead lines,
showcasing the skills that powered Gillan, and made him the one Ozzy
tapped to fill in on short notice when Randy Rhoads tragically died, as
he wrenches notes from his Strat during the extended solo.
"No Justice" is another straight forward rocker with a slightly punkish
vibe which features a catchy, rousing chorus, while "Miss The Buzz"
mixes up the heaviness with the influence of classic English
psychedelic pop during the harmonized vocals which comprise the chorus.
What sounds like a mellotron is employed over which Tormé solos
with abandon, lending more of a trippy effect to the track. "Longer
Than Tomorrow" is another riveting, intense rocker with dive bombing
guitars; although deceptively simple, chordal wise, it's quite
effective, building in intensity as the song progresses. "Summerland"
begins with beautiful acoustic work before suddenly erupting into a
power psychedelic ballad of sorts, although, unlike many similar
efforts, this one really rocks. Yet again slightly dreamy and
trance-like, it has a hypnotic effect that's heightened especially if
one is in an "enlightened" state of mind, the crashing drums adding a
bit of cacophony to the mix. At over 8 minutes, it's the longest track
here -- it takes the time to suck one in, and succeeds admirably.
Booming drums and feedback herald the start of "Deireadh An Samhradh
(Summer's End)," which is more of an instrumental bridge to the album's
concluding track "Vincenzo (Della Grande Pumpo Del Amore)," a hard
edged glam styled rocker reminiscent of Tormé's work in Electric
Gypsies which finishes things off in fine fashion indeed.
Remarkably diverse, especially for the power trio format, what GMT have
come up with is a most impressive, cohesive mix of songs certain to
find favor with all those who seek this out. Rather than merely playing
it safe and coming up with something predictable, these three extremely
talented rock veterans have created an album which is as vital as
anything being released in heavy rock today, while still retaining
enough of the classic elements which brought them recognition in the
first place. The band says, " However you might want to describe their
sound - hard rock, heavy rock, classic, psychedelic or biker rock,
sleazy, garage or punk rock" -- well, I would describe this as simply a
damn fine rock record which defies mere categorization or labels. A
rare combination, and one which comes very highly recommended. 10/10
Nightwatcher for rock n roll universe
"...New
album from drummer Robin Guy, bassist John McCoy and guitarist/vocalist
Bernie Tormé, the latter two perhaps best known from having
played with The Gillan Band (between them you can add Samson, Atomic
Rooster, Mammoth, Desperado and many others).
The set opens with
the powerful Cannonball, probably the heaviest thing they've ever done,
before we get the Irish sounding Rocky Road, the Celtic influence
allowing Tormé to play on his native accent. The tribal drums
work well too.
Throughout the album the guitar chops are sharp, the solos blistering,
the bass heavy as lead and the drums thunderous. Each really prove's
their merit, and the production as solid as the music is heavy. You
Can't Beat Rock'n'Roll sums things up well.
A unique blend of classic rock proving its utter relevance, and a
welcome return to the Bernie and John combination.
Joe Geesin's 5 STAR ***** ("OUT OF THIS WORLD")
Get Ready To Rock
"...
And how spooky is this? Two days after posting that photo of myself
with Bernie Tormé at Reading, a package from The Great Man hits
the doormat. Besides a message of thanks for the recent review of the
Desperado album in Classic Rock, Bernie wanted to pass on a copy of
'Bitter & Twisted', the debut from his latest venture GMT. I'd
already seen the band (completed by ex-Gillan/Mammoth bassist John
McCoy and former Rachel Stamp/Bruce Dickinson drummer Robin Guy)
whipping up a storm at a Clive Burr benefit gig at the Ruskin Arms last
year, so knew of their potential. What can I impart of Tormé's
oeuvre that hasn't already been written? Very little. A typically
monstrous slab of punk-tinged psychedelic hard rock, overlain with
squalling guitars, Whammy bar torture tactics and barely intelligiable,
electric soup-fuelled vocals, 'Bitter & Twisted' is worth tracking
down right away. daveling.co.uk/diary.htm
"The
debut release from the thundering rock trio crosses a variety of
musical genres/boundaries as Bernie Torme, John McCoy, and Robin Guy
show the new blood how it’s done.
The
foot stomping relentless pace of “Cannonball” starts the
album off by exploding from the speakers. I had heard the song
previously on a DVD I reviewed and I’m happy to say that it
remains fully intact in it’s power here. The music is pounding
and the delivery pace of guitarist Bernie Torme’s vocals is note
perfect. One of the two planned radio releases, “Rocky Road (To
Dublin)” mixes today’s hard rock sound with the phrasing of
Irish music and carries it off wonderfully. The title track has a
slower tempo and a blues-rock finish to the song while
“Can’t Beat Rock N Roll” is a fast paced rocker.
A more groove oriented track like “Miss The Buzz” proves
GMT is adept at any style of song. The songs that start off in a more
ballad like fashion like “Down To Here” and
“Summerland” also serves as examples of their musical
adaptability. The former features a really cool guitar solo from Torme,
while the latter track ends up a far more rocking track with an
attacking guitar line before settling back into the slower tempo again.
It’s also the longest track on the CD. The length and pace of the
song give it that classic “epic” feel. Still, with all that
being said, it’s the first track “Cannonball” that
stands out to me as the best on the album. It grabs you by the throat,
throws you against the wall, and dares you to try and turn away.
It’s a candidate, in my book, for song of the year.
The
closing track “Vincenzo (Della Grande Pumpo Del Amore)” is
solid musically, but I didn’t care for the lyrics or the
delivery. I can’t decide if they were being delivered tongue in
cheek like a novelty song or what.
Imagine
putting the pedal to the metal? Do you have that imagine in your head?
Okay, now save for an occasional moment when you run into another car
on the highway, imagine never letting up on that pedal? This is the
feeling you’ll get when listening to GMT. It’s a university
level course in how to make a dead on balls accurate rock album. From
the hot guitar riffs of Torme to the slamming rhythm foundation of
McCoy and Robin Guy, the band puts to shame more than a lot of bands
making hay these days.
Jay Roberts Rock Is Life
"Fans
of no frills heavy rock & metal will get a kick out of the debut
from GMT, the new band comprised of guitarist/vocalist Bernie Torme
(Gillan/Torme/Ozzy), bassist John McCoy (Mammoth/Gillan) and drummer
Robin Guy (Bruce Dickinson/Faith No More). These guys deliver eleven
solid tracks of ballsy, blues inflected biker rock somewhat along the
lines of early Motorhead, complete with tight rhythms and Torme's wild
guitar flights. There's an extremely raw feel here, as if the trio just
went into the studio and ripped this out live, yet the songs are all
highly memorable and just good plain fun.Listen to Torme litterally
peel the paint off the wall with his scorching blues-rock solo on "Down
to Here" (one of the albums more moodier pieces), and the band just
kicks into overdrive on the faster, almost speed metal meets punk
tracks like "Cannonball" and the title track. Bernie provides the
vocals, and his "rough and ready" punk inspired vocal attack works well
on bruisers like the catchy "Can't Beat Rock 'n' Roll" and the
energetic "No Justice". McCoy's "mammoth" bass grooves lead off the
crunchy "Miss the Buzz", a plodding heavy rock number with equally
large guitar riffs from Torme, and "Longer the Tomorrow" sees the
guitarist lashing out some complex guitar patterns while McCoy and Guy
dig in deep. Bernie's solo on this one is chilling, with Guy's maniacal
drum beats raging behind him. The final three tracks on the album sees
the band getting into some different sounds, and this adds some nice
variety to the back end of the CD. "Summerland" is a atmospheric piece
with some deft picking and occasional whammy bar screams from Torme,
and "Deireadh An Samhradh (Summers end)" is a brooding little
instrumental. Both these pieces add a nice psychedelic flavor. The
final piece "Vincenzo (Bella Grande Pumpo Del Amore)" is a bombastic
rocker, with guest keyboards from Colin Townes (a mini-Gillan
reunion!), and makes for a spirited ending to a fun CD.Perhaps not the
most refined album, but I don't think it was ever meant to be. These
three have an obvious chemistry together, and it really shows. Torme is
one of the most underrated guitarists around, and his skills are in the
spotlight here, as well as the excellent rhythm work of both McCoy and
Guy. Fans of Torme's solo work, as well as the raucous hard rock &
metal sounds of vintage Gillan or Motorhead, would be well advised to
check out Bitter & Twisted, and be prepared to have a lot of fun
with it."
Pete Pardo seaoftranquility.org
Internview with Bernie and John in
Classic Rock Magazine
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PUNTERS REVIEWS:
*****Bloody Brilliant Album:
This
is one of the greatest line ups in British/Irish Rock music for many a
year. Bernie, John and Robin....I have waited for a good few years for
the McCoy/Torme collaberation and what an album it is too!! It sounds
like they have just miked everything up, played as live and done the
business!! Who needs loads of overdubs?? You never get what it sounds
like on the album usually, but with this one,I can close my eyes and
imagine the crowd in the background. AWESOME is the word. And I love
Rocky Road to Dublin....obviously the N11 from Arklow!!
P.D.Brennan
*****Not bitter or twisted but somewhat nostalgic:
This is a huge sounding CD. Tormes vocals are very recognizable and his
strat sounds massive. Great to hear Mr Mcoys bass pounding and the
drummer is also good. This is definately one of those albums that grow
on you with some great riffs and some great humour on offer, and also a
great Hendrix alike track, and all played very tightly. I look forward
to seeing GMT live in the near future.
T.G.Wells
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"BITTER & TWISTED" Track List
1. Cannonball
2. Rocky Road (from Dublin)
3. Bitter and Twisted
4. Can't Beat Rock'n'Roll
5. Down to Here
6. No Justice
7. Miss The Buzz
8. Longer Than Tomorrow
9. Summerland
10. Deireadh An Samhradh (Summer's End)
11. Vincenzo (della Grande Pumpo del' Amore)
For song lyrics of "Bitter & Twisted" click HERE
GMT's debut album "Bitter & Twisted" was recorded and mixed at Barnroom Studios, Kent
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For Live reviews of recent GMT gigs click HERE
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ALSO AVAILABLE FROM GMT:
The Cannonball EP features the songs "Cannonball", "Bitter & Twisted" and "Ball & Chain". This release is a DOWNLOAD ONLY RELEASE, and is available from ITUNES and others.
Click the ITUNES button to buy Guy McCoy Torme from ITUNES now!
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