Review | Inglorious – V

Frontiers Music srl

With their fourth studio-album ‘We Will Ride’ UK rockers Inglorious, formed around singer Nathan James delivered a top-notch melodic rock record. Yet again Nathan James had made personnel changes with only drummer Phil Beaver left from the original line-up, but that made no difference as the band came up trumps. Not much later Inglorious released the cover-album ‘Heroine’, performing covers of songs of which the original versions were all sung by women. On that album the group also experimented with more pop orientated tracks as well as pure rock songs, but it left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. The 2022 live-album ‘MMXXI’ was more like it again. Then Nathan James announced a hiatus and he participated in the ‘supergroup’ Iconic sharing lead vocals with Stryper’s Michael Sweet on their only album so far.

NEW CHAPTER

The last couple of years have been quiet for the group but behind the scenes things were happening. First drummer Phil Beaver left not long after followed by the rest of the band, leaving Nathan James in desperate need for new musicians and start from scratch. Nathan renewed his ties with original Inglorious bass player Colin Parkinson. The duo started writing songs and in a later stage recruited guitarist Richard Shaw and drummer Henry Rogers, both people with a seasoned past in several other groups. A new chapter for Inglorious had started, recording their fifth studio-album with original material and with Colin Parkinson put in as producer. Responsible for the mix was Tony Draper who in the past already worked on several of their albums.

READY FOR THE FUTURE

The ten songs recorded on ‘V’ showcase a group that (yet again) is ready for the future. The tracks are robust, full of power and melody and led by the remarkable pipes on Nathan James. It is as if nothing has changed at all. The typical Inglorious ingredients have been kept intact by James and Parkinson and as always, a ballad or two is part of the procedure. If you ask me if ‘V’ is as consistent as ‘We Will Ride’ or that amazing debut-album….

Hmm, there are one or two songs there that do not do it for me for the full hundred percent such as ,,Say What You Wanna Say’’. On the other side when you hear the more ‘laid back’ tracks ,,Believe’’ or ,,Power Of Truth’’ (with an acoustic start but not much later turning into a gorgeous rocker with a superb riff), it is clear that Inglorious still got what it takes as the rest of the material sounds more than acceptable.

INGLORIOUS – THE CONCLUSION

I have said it before that if Nathan James manages to create some stability in this band, Inglorious will go places. The past has proven though that keeping a steady line-up is somewhat like pulling teeth. On the other hand, this band has been from the very start in 2014 formed around Nathan James as his voice is the lead component. So, it might be irrelevant who is in the band, as long as Nathan is there. Fans of the band will most likely be very satisfied with ‘V’. The album comes very close to those two above mentioned records. It is now up to Nathan James to keep it together. Good luck with that!

Release date: 6 June 2025