Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are groups, sets of musicians that are captured so well on stage, their huge sound overwhelming and intense that when they finally bring together their growing catalogue of songs to an E.P. or album it can on the whole seem slightly muted, the voice, the growl and the thrill of the vocal chase, surrendered for the smoothness offered in the vacuum of sterility.

It has happened to all the greats within the rock circus, especially on numerous occasion of those in the heavier allotted strands of rock but for Buckle Tongue, whilst their unimaginably thrilling E.P. A King In All Of Us, is not quite the force of the live performance by the suggestion a single percentage point, it loses nothing in delivery, power or commitment to Buckle Tongue’s music

For Benny Chance, Shaun Ridge, Jack Somers and Jord Chance, A King In All Of Us  is the culmination so far of everything they have overcome and drawn strength from. It is the satisfaction of knowing that whilst there were some who dismissed their chances as being a metal-influenced band playing in the Merseyside area, not a traditional home for the genre, that by sticking to their guns, not relaxing at all and playing out of their skins every single time they took to the stage, they have been vindicated for their honesty and great sounding tracks.

Each song has a dynamic thrown do so hard it would make J.C.B. rattle with fear, each well placed synchronisation between bass and drum have the steel girders in the best structurally designed building quake and squeal under the pressure, it gives even the arguably the finest metal band to come out of England, Iron Maiden in their very early days a distinct run for their money. Yet it also has something that the N.W.O.B.H.M. favourite sons didn’t have until the arrival of Bruce Dickinson, a soft dramatic poise, an ability to whisper when the shout is lost in the cacophony.

From the glowing Embers, to the wave of expression that comes with Tidal and through to the superb You’re Saving Me and Wayside, Buckle Tongue play with notes as if they are the precious commodity on the planet, forget the trinkets that appear on the fingers and sought after chains around the necks and ankles, true value is to be found in Buckle Tongue’s A King In All Of Us.  

Ian D. Hall