Nearly all of us has experienced the lockdown blues with the ongoing COVID 19 crisis. However, some view the added benefit of being able to focus on projects without the usual everyday social distractions as a bonus. Moreover, there are plenty of musicians and bands who have been using this time to let the creative juices flow and crack on with new music.

Enter Jack J Hutchinson who has released his fourth album of heavy guitar-driven music showing consistency to evolve from promising talent to be on the cusp of becoming an established artist of note.

Opener Justified appositely backs up this lockdown focus with its cascading riff flowing out of Hutchinson’s searing hot fretboard likea spurt of molten lava from a volcanic eruption of melting noise.

Crisp, crunching riffs that sound like a muscle car accelerating fast over gravel, Haunted Bones and Kiss My Ass keep the momentum purring along nicely. However, it’s on standout track Peace Of Mind in which Hutchinson and band stretch out to dramatic effect; something that they almost match on the slow burn feel of Autumn Leaves.

Aided, rather than restricted by a no-frills production, there’s an untethered power about the performance of these lockdown tunes that roll and tumble forth with no lack of melody. And Hutchinson’s slightly higher register vocal adds a touch of nervy vulnerability to the heavy blend and ballast of incisive instrumentation.

Hutchinson and band have certainly locked down more than a decent album of heavy rocking muscle toned tunes.

Jack J Hutchinson
Who Feeds The Lockdown
8/10

By Paul Davies

About The Author

I began my career in journalism at the now defunct, pre-digital Smash Hits magazine, which was situated in London's Carnaby Street. After learning the ropes, I washed up at Vox Magazine, essentially the NME'S monthly magazine, as the Internet arrived into our lives. Thereon, I eventually graduated onto Q Magazine when people still treasured the magazine that they bought. My journalistic career since has been on newspapers at The Times, The Independent/i newspaper, Daily & Sunday Express and, ofcourse, National Rock Review.