VOD – Victory Or Die – Live @ Dreadnought Rocks -Jason Sweeney music

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Review By Darren McIntyre Photos By John McIntyre/ Shutter Time photography

Victory Or Die is the rock n roll lovechild brought about by Messrs Sweeney / Stewart after a 5 day jolly to LA LA Land last year to take in the glorious sights of The Sunset Strip that were about to inspire these two rock n rollers. The boys have been putting the finishing touches to their lineup with a stellar cast of scallywags that was about to take Bathgate by storm and tear us a new one, the boys Sweeney, Christie, Stewart, Cumming are about to unleash 11 original tracks that are going to get this juggernaut on the road. The place is filling up nicely as the house PA dims and the boys take to the stage as Jason bellows out alright Dreadnought we are Victory Or Die and we play rock n fucking roll as the place erupts in a hail of clapping and fist punching that gets this killer night off the ground as the boys launch into –

Rock n Roll’s Alive – the rhythm section is the heart beat of this powering 4 piece that kicks things off with a pounding snare drum kick that soon brings in shredding guitar riffs that let this monster opener see the whites of our eyes. The soaring vocals of Jason Sweeney tear through the opening track like a hot knife through butter as this rocking unit kicks in the doors and lets us have it, the bassline is a cool funk beat that provides the perfect backdrop to this impressive debut outfit. As the song gathers pace we get the slick crisp solo from Andy Christie as he strides through this opening beast with ease, the boys are giving it their all for their first outing and we can see that they are enjoying it. The place seems to like the pace as to which these boys came at us with as they launch into –

Evacuation – We continue as the boys give us what we came for, rock n roll with sheer power-drenched licks that come packed with a solid rhythm section that is hitting us with colossal punches that make it easy to see why these boys work. The foot-stomping riffs and the epic basslines are letting us feel our way through this colourful setlist that has come to melt our faces and allow us to get down and dirty right here in Bathgate, the place is jumping as the killer vocals bellow all through the venue as Jason tells it like it is with killer lyrics that make it easy to see why these boys got together. The whole arrangement is brimming with energy, swagger and depth as we welcome another banger that has certainly caught our attention, we move onto –

Radio – This is a punchy groove that lets us know that these boys mean business as they unleash another banger that just makes us want to mosh along with the rest of the crowd. These are songs from the heart as the boys deliver a deep meaty bassline that rolls through this pounding beast as the vocals soar and let the groove flow, the place feels the love as they are bellowing along with the shredding riffs that erupt from the small but power-packed stage. Although this is their first outing you can tell that they have been putting in the hours to show us they mean business as we get the slick, clean guitar licks from Andy as he settles into the lead slot and cuts the mustard as the boys bring us a real powering rock n roll show, up next is –

Live Forever – The boys continue where they left off as they hit us with clean lines that speak volumes as to how hard this unit is. The vocals are raw and full of emotion as the track gathers pace and brings out the best these boys have to give tonight, the tracks are fresh and give us a real 80’s vibe that fits the songwriting and the depth of the musicality that seems to flow effortlessly through the track. Twin guitar riffs are rattling the inside of this rocking venue as we feel the energy pulsing through us as the boys kick in the doors and give us a rock show with balls that are just taking this gig to another level, we are getting into the groove as the boys dig deep and hit us with swish chords and soaring vocals that showcase the boys and what it means to these 4 renegades as they let this juggernaut do its thing, up next is –

Ghosts They Speak – Coming Straight for Us is a shredding guitar riff that has a real solid snare punch that is backed by powering basslines that wrap themselves around this foot-stomping monster. The cool rasping vocals take this track upwards as the tone works well with this deep meaty groover track, we get a funking bassline that delivers dark, delicious tones that are swallowed by a pounding rhythm section that just controls the groove from the back of the room. The boys are delivering a cool punch to the face that certainly wakes you up as this gritty rock n roll beast brings the attitude, swagger and crunch that we have come to expect from these boys and it is plain to see that they mean business as we stroll into –

House Of Love – This is a smooth arrangement that brings us mellow riffs and emotion-filled vocals that just whisk us off to another place. The boys show their diverse side as they take this track onwards with sheer musicality as we stand and watch this killer track unfold, we are getting a real solid showing that brings in searing guitars, mellow vocals with delicious basslines that wrap in pounding drums that are the shining light of this debut show, Dave is driving this cruiser as it navigates it’s way through this 11 song set that has everything a good rock show brings, we move onto the raucous –

Hotrod Nightmare – We get a funking power-drenched groove that has meaty basslines that control the groove as the rasping vocals erupt and let this cool punchy track come at us. The rhythm section is hitting us with pounding bass kicks that bring snare drum beats that welcome soaring cymbal crashes that let this track come to life, the killer shreds from Andy are working well as Jason follows on with his cool licks that let this track work its magic. The funky groove is a real foot stomper as the boys hit their stride and give us shredding riffs with deep pounding snare drum kicks that allow this track the room it needs to grow, we roll straight into –

New Rock Revolution – A thunderous rhythm section kicks in the doors as this killer track explodes in front of us as the killer bass kicks tell the story. The cool gravelly vocals let this 80’s rocker track unfold as the boys bring us the Sunset Strip vibe that is just bubbling under the surface as the killer rhythm section punches us straight in the face with these awesome beats that are wrapped in killer guitar riffs that just lift the tone to the next level for sure, we are getting our monies worth tonight let me tell you as these boys are giving us blood, sweat and tears tonight as they want us to feel the rawness that they are giving us tonight, we are heading to the business end of the show as the boys hit us with –

Bone Trap – Snare drum raps come through as the powering guitar riffs fill the air as these boys come for us with a cool groove that is just what the doctor ordered. The fierce tone is just grabbing us by the collar and shaking us with sheer vigour as this killer punchy rock track leaves its mark, we get gravelly rasping vocals that tell us that these boys are getting into the swing of things as the pounding rhythm section commands the room with killer punches that bring cymbal smashes that take this monster all the way and then some, we stroll into –

Goodbye – A nice sweet cool guitar lick comes at us as this melodic rocker track oozes from the stage tonight and lets us feel the smoother side to this quartet. Basslines are dropping dark, mellow grooves that let Brian do his thing as this ballad-style track opens with epic vocals that stop us in our tracks, we are getting a sweeter rockier tone from this killer ballad that has emotion attached to it and brings depth to tonight’s killer entertainment. The rhythm section is again hitting us with solid snare drum beats that bring bass kicks to even out the playing field as Andy steps forward and offloads with a sizzling solo that is full of sweetness and depth that shows us a softer side to these 4 horsemen as they flow steadily into the last track of the evening –

Blind Faith – Jason belts out are we ready, are we ready as this shredding beast comes hurtling towards us with depth, attitude and bags of swagger. The cool vocals wrap themselves around this crunching chorus that is giving us real pleasure tonight as the rhythm section kicks us with snare drum beats that come armed with cymbal snaps that give it lady. The bassline is handing us sweet clean grooves that are taking this track to another place as the boys give us all they have in this last rasping track that has delivered 11 songs that will leave their mark on us tonight, we have 4 guys who know a thing or two about music and it was laid bare tonight with no stone unturned.

Victory Or Die –

Jason Sweeney – Vocals / Guitar

Andy Christie – Guitar / Backing Vocals

Brian Stewart – Bass / Backing Vocals

Dave Cumming – Drums

Setlist –

Rock n Roll’s Alive

Evacuation

Radio

Live Forever

Ghosts They Speak

House Of Love