GMT, BITTER AND TWISTED CD REVIEW ON ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE

What do you get when you combine the prodigious talents of legendary Irish guitarist Bernie Tormé (Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne, Dee Snider's Desperado), larger than life bassist John McCoy (Gillan, Samson, Mammoth) and wildman drummer Robin Guy (Bruce Dickinson, Faith No More, Rachel Stamp)? Well, you get GMT, who on their debut release 'Bitter & Twisted' have released an album that not only will peel the paint off your walls, but will definitely perk up the ears of any fan of no nonsense heavy rock, resulting in one of the finest records of the year in the process.

The album roars off with "Cannonball," a ferocious, almost speed metal track that begins with manic riffs courtesy of Tormé sounding like Dick Dale after ingesting an 8 ball of meth, before calming down slightly to allow the vocals room to breathe. Underneath, Robin Guy's thundering drums and John McCoy's rumbling bass lines combine to conjure up a wall of sound that's both mesmerizing and captivating, propelling it along like a speeding locomotive that's about to derail. This blistering rocker is one of many highlights of this superlative disc, and is just a hint of what's to come.

One aspect which truly impresses is just how musically tight these three are. Like a well oiled machine, this is a power trio firing on all cylinders from the get go. There's an obvious chemistry at play here, a symmetry of which cannot be faked or forced. They're the real deal, playing to win, and taking no prisoners. From there it continues with a decidedly Irish bent with “Rocky Road (from Dublin)," which mixes Celtic, Lizzy-like rhythms with the thrust of Mötorhead, showcasing impassioned vocals from Tormé. Slowing down marginally with the grinding riff rocker that is the title track, McCoy and Guy interlock in a primal beat that will beat one into submission before leading into the anthemic “Can’t Beat Rock ‘N’ Roll," which boasts a heavy, ZZ Top - gone - metal like riff which is sure to please connoisseurs of slamming heavy rock. Catchy and memorable from the start, this is certainly another highlight on display here, and would be perfect for radio play.”Down To Here” exhibits fantastic guitar work ala Hendrix, and is a great showcase which shows that Tormé hasn’t lost his gift for coming up with memorable lead lines, showcasing the skills that powered Gillan, and made him the one Ozzy tapped to fill in on short notice when Randy Rhoads tragically died, as he wrenches notes from his Strat during the extended solo.

“No Justice” is another straight forward rocker with a slightly punkish vibe which features a catchy, rousing chorus, while “Miss The Buzz” mixes up the heaviness with the influence of classic English psychedelic pop during the harmonized vocals which comprise the chorus. What sounds like a mellotron is employed over which Tormé solos with abandon, lending more of a trippy effect to the track. “Longer Than Tomorrow” is another riveting, intense rocker with dive bombing guitars; although deceptively simple, chordal wise, it’s quite effective, building in intensity as the song progresses. “Summerland” begins with beautiful acoustic work before suddenly erupting into a power psychedelic ballad of sorts, although, unlike many similar efforts, this one really rocks. Yet again slightly dreamy and trance-like, it has a hypnotic effect that’s heightened especially if one is in an “enlightened” state of mind, the crashing drums adding a bit of cacophony to the mix. At over 8 minutes, it's the longest track here -- it takes the time to suck one in, and succeeds admirably. Booming drums and feedback herald the start of “Deireadh An Samhradh (Summer’s End),” which is more of an instrumental bridge to the album’s concluding track “Vincenzo (Della Grande Pumpo Del Amore)," a hard edged glam styled rocker reminiscent of Tormé’s work in Electric Gypsies which finishes things off in fine fashion indeed.

Remarkably diverse, especially for the power trio format, what GMT have come up with is a most impressive, cohesive mix of songs certain to find favor with all those who seek this out. Rather than merely playing it safe and coming up with something predictable, these three extremely talented rock veterans have created an album which is as vital as anything being released in heavy rock today, while still retaining enough of the classic elements which brought them recognition in the first place. The band says, “ However you might want to describe their sound – hard rock, heavy rock, classic, psychedelic or biker rock, sleazy, garage or punk rock" -- well, I would describe this as simply a damn fine rock record which defies mere categorization or labels. A rare combination, and one which comes very highly recommended. 10/10 www.gmtrocks.com