Kev Rowland
Swiss act Sideburn started life as Genocide back in 1985 as a metal act, but it was only with their third album that they really found their direction after they covered Rose Tattoo's “Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw”. At long last they knew what they wanted to do, and that was move into the pub-style of rock that was the ground of Aussie bands such as AC/DC, Cold Chisel and Rose Tattoo. A slight line-up change and a switch to the monicker of Sideburn and the band were all set to hit the road. This is their fourth album, originally released in 2003, and now reissued with three live songs that were recorded in France in 2012. There is nothing fancy about this album, it is all about sweat and a blues-based classic rock sound (a mix of AC/DC, Nazareth and ZZ Top) that will have you moving and smiling.
My favourite is the wonderfully named “Never Kill The Chicken” which has enough swagger and blues harmonica so that they get away with it, and while there isn’t an out and out classic there isn’t a duff number either. The more high energy numbers are the ones that come out best, such as “Attitude”, and the impression is that while the studio albums are all well and dandy it is in the live environment that these guys really shine. Honest music, and if you like any of the bands mentioned above then this is well worth investigating. If the name is new to you then their site is well worth a look at www.sideburn.ch (‘Pure Rock From Switzerland’).