#passeger

Frankfurt International Airport

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Federal Charm, ‘Passenger’

Federal Charm, are an outright, 5 piece rock band, that has distinct influences from the blues rock of the likes of Led Zeppelin. The band has morphed with Tom Guyer on vocals, and Josh Zahler coming in on drums, following a 4 show road test, to sell out audiences, they will be touring in September alongside The Bad Flowers.

The album cover of Passenger, depicts a plane wreck, and you might think that’s exactly what you’ve stepped into in the opening ‘wild’ rock track, ‘Swing Sinner’, the tail of an abused son, taking his revenge and paying the ultimate price. Heavy rock for a heavy toll. Much of the album is formed around human emotions, alongside a poke at bureaucracy, cutting vocals, and swinging axes, making the statement.

‘Choke’, reflects the root influences of Federal Charm, Tom Guyer’s vocal lead stands out over pumping rhythms, and Paul Bowe’s guitar runs, a stunningly good track. ‘Emerald Haze’, a veil of green envy, but the rhythm and vibe is bluesy, layed out by Zahler’s drums and Morawski’s bass, with Bowe having his moment in a surprisingly melodic song. Josh Zahler sets up a lovely roller coaster rhythm for the’ ‘Death Rattle’ of all those music venues we love so much, Paul takes an ethereal solo as the doors close on the dying moments.

With a lovely acoustic guitar opening, thumping drums, and explosive rock, ‘Concrete Creature’, rides a switchback of rhythms and power, and power is money, Tom calls the shots, on this fascinating, involving track.

An almost Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green’s) opening keyboard from Kyle Ross, brings in the closing song, ‘Parting Words’, divorced from reality, it takes us on a ride that has pulsating bass, heavy weights of rock dragging you down, soaring guitar and vocals, hauling us back up, through the ever changing moods and emotions entailed.

Being a Passenger, on this flight, is not for the faint hearted, there are heavy loads to be carried, as your strapped in for the ride, but it has the extra legroom and wider seats, that allow stretching and reclining, skating over rich white foaming clouds, between bouts of turbulent, thunderous rock. I’m not a fan of heavy rock, but there is enough in here to entice me to a concert and see Federal Charm live in action, for those who enjoy destroying their eardrums, go get a copy, you’ll love it!

Tom Guyler is Federal Charm’s Plant, to Josh Zahler’s Bonham, add the excellent Bowe, L.D. Morawski and Kyle Ross’s keyboard, and you have the makings of a Supergroup for today.