Wired Desire – Barely Illegal

artist website

impulse buy

Self-published
Produced by Wired Desire

This is something UK bands have never really done that well. Heavy, dirty, sleaze-rock. America, Scandinavia, even Italy, are all far more accomplished than us at that care-free, live-for-the-minute style of rock ‘n’ roll.

Until now. Right to the chase, this is the best Crüe-esque rock ‘n’ roll I have ever heard out of the UK, from the ’80s or otherwise. Barely Illegal is their self-published debut EP and already has the band, who only formed in 2006, sounding like the complete article. This is what bands like Imperial Vipers are trying, and failing, to do on the UK rock scene.

The four tracks here are full-tilt hard rock, with no ballads watering the disc down. Solos dripping in Slash-isms, particularly to No One Sleeps and Ride, vocals a 75/25 mix of Jizzy Pearl and Phil Lewis, with a little Jesse James Dupree for good measure, and riffs full of Jackyl southern groove (Damn Hard) and big AC/DC rhythms, all alongside a faithfully rocking cover of George Thorogood‘s The Hard Stuff.

Other parts are reminiscent of little-known Swedish outfit Bullseye Powerrock (No One Sleeps) and Irish rising stars The Answer (Ride), but overall this is a brand of rock this country doesn’t turn its hand successfully to very often, and it doesn’t get any better than this EP.

Hopefully Wired Desire have more of these hook-laden rockers up their sleeves for a debut full-length album. Meanwhile they’re busy touring heavily, including successful showcase gigs in London, and recordings like this could be their ticket to high-profile supports and festival bills. By rights, it should be.

“ full-tilt hard rock ”

Tracklist: No One Sleeps / The Hard Stuff / Damn Hard / Ride

Written by Andy Lye
More: EPs, Hard Rock, Wired Desire