It’s been four years since the rock community was graced with a Gentlemans Pistols album,  the Leeds quartet have been busy on the road (with a few lineup changes along the way) and now going by this hotly-anticipated third offering from the band, Hustler’s Row - it’s definitely been worth the wait.

 

According to frontman James Atkinson, most of the songs were written shortly after the release of their second album At Her Majesty’s Pleasure, which has allowed the band plenty of time to develop their tracks and 'incubate’ them as the singer describes.

 

Opening track The Searcher sets the tone for the album perfectly as the rhythms laid down by Atkinson and fellow guitarist Bill Steer fuse together perfectly well with the bass output courtesy of Robert Threapleton. It’s a short and snappy track which demands the listener’s attention leaving you craving for more. Luckily, anyone listening to this will be pleased with what follows.

 

Devil’s Advocate On Call ups the ante with it’s bluesy vibe and addictive groove. One of the standout tracks on the album where the vocal harmonies are perfectly executed and with guitar leads so compelling they will be stuck in your head for hours.

 

Third track Time Wasters sees Atkinson touching on those people that have held him back over the years. There’s a personal theme running through the heart of this album which comes across in the passion of his vocals - it adds that extra layer to the record that helps to give it an edge over it’s predecessors. And let’s not undermine the drumming from Stuart Dobbins, he does a fantastic job moulding together each composition with each rhythmic reverberation of wood and drum skin. 

 

Private Rendezvous continues the same pattern with the southern American, bluesy influences shining through. “Stress and Confusion’ is a far more stripped back affair, every note is played with sniper-like precision and the emotion Atkinson carries in his vocal tones helps to lift the song up another level - a definite highlight of the record.