Persian Risk - Once A King

Formed in 1979 Persian Risk were one of those ‘nearly’ bands, riding in on the crest of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal tsunami their original run lasted seven years before they split up. During that time they managed to release just one album, so when in 2012 the band reformed and released their second long playing record I for one was filled with excitement.

The original line-up of Persian Risk was not to last long, lead singer John Deverill left the band as early as 1980 to fellow NWOBHM luminaries Tygers of Pan-Tang. However his replacement, the more than capable Carl Sentance took up the baton and ran with it. I first saw them with Carl on lead vocals in 1983 just before lead guitarist and founding member Phil Campbell left to join the legendary Motorhead the band in which he still plays thirty years later. With the support slot on Motorhead’s tour of 1984 and several TV appearances you’d have thought Persian Risk would have gone from strength to strength however just two years after the Motorhead tour the band had split up.

All this is ancient history however; let’s bring it up to date, July 2013 to be exact and yours truly finds himself at Rock City in Nottingham, Metal Mansions Promotions have teamed up Persian Risk and Savage on a NWOBHM double header. What a great gig, two bands newly reformed a nostalgia trip for some in the audience for others brand new bands kicking out quality heavy metal. Whilst perusing the merchandise stand after the show I obtained my copy of Once A King and have been playing it none stop ever since. The album is performed by Carl Sentance (lead vocals) Tim Brown (drums) Chris Childs and Alex Meadows (bass) Howie G and Danny Wilson (lead guitar) and none other than Deep Purple’s keyboard player Don Airey.

With eleven tracks on the CD, seven new songs and brand new recordings of four old songs from back in the 80’s it sounds superb, it’s clear a lot of effort has been put into the production of this album. It all kicks off with Asylum a fast paced number which gets this disc off to a rollicking start. Track two is Riding High an old favourite from Persian Risk’s live set this song however never made it to record until now, well worth the wait, it’s a song that gallops along like a cavalry charge and is a classic NWOBHM number. It’s fair to say at this point that everything on this new album sounds reminiscent of the old band and the era in which they first emerged while managing to sound bang up to date. Songs like Soul Deceiver with it’s AC/DCesque riff is a catchy ‘classic’ rock number while the brilliant track nine Fist Of Fury reminds me of early 80’s Judas Priest with Carl’s vocals making a foray into Rob Halford territory, it’s my personal favourite song on Once A King, however Battlecry runs it a close second. If you’ve never heard of Persian Risk before or indeed never heard any of their songs you will be in for a treat listening to this CD it’s fresh with a familiar twist, there’s material on it which may remind you of bands like Rainbow, Dio era Sabbath and maybe even Magnum. A wave of nostalgia flows over me when track ten is playing, Women And Rock is an all-time classic Persian Risk song and takes me back three decades to the Queen’s Head at Riddings when I saw these guys play live for the first time, ahh we were so young and had all our own hair and the women really did rock, but I digress. Strange thing is when I had a chat with Carl Sentance at the rock city gig he seems not to have aged at all and his vocal gymnastics are still in gold medal position a veritable Peter Pan.

If you’re sick to death of listening to these so called metal bands who’s lead vocalists seem to think growling, barking and grunting out illegible lyrics is what heavy rock and metal is all about then I recommend you get yourself a copy of Persian Risk’s Once A King and play it on full volume you will not be disappointed I can assure you. GD

Check out Persian Risk at http://www.persianrisk.co.uk/Persian_Risk/Bio.html

Below: Carl Sentance from rock city Nottingham...

Below: Carl Sentance & GD Manofmetal @ rock city Nottingham...