Review: Rare Breed

Next up is the self-titled debut album from soulful blues rockers Rare Breed.

Rare Breed are an original blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll band based in Mossley, Greater Manchester. Formed out of the North-West blues and rock scene, they have already built a strong reputation as a fantastic live band, playing venues and festivals across the North of England.

Opening track Swamp calmly strolls in before locking into a funk-laden groove so good you cannot help but nod along. The whisky-soaked, 20-a-day vocal glides perfectly over the top before the band crashes together for the chorus. It is understated in its beauty, unapologetically dirty and full of different influences, but it is the underlying groove that makes Rare Breed feel so unique.

The song is a perfect contrast between laid-back, rolling blues and powerful collisions of the band turned up to 11. It is clear they have a lot of influences, but rather than sounding scattered, those influences mould into something distinct and exciting.

Up next is Pieces, which crashes in before dropping into that now familiar laid-back groove. Their use of space is incredibly effective. Every note feels intentional and not a single one is wasted. The vocal cruises along almost to the point of cracking, which adds real depth and vitality.

We discussed this one in the office and, this is a bit obscure, but there is definitely a flash that reminds us of the criminally undervalued side project from the Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Slash’s Snakepit, but with a more modern, vital approach. Then there is the off-kilter middle eight, which would not sound out of place in a Led Zeppelin track. A great, passionate monster of a track that keeps you guessing throughout with its twists, turns and, once again, incredible use of space.

Heartache follows with a bass groove so smooth it should carry a health warning. Again, it is all about control and groove. The lead guitar snippets are perfect, almost acting as a second vocal line in this laid-back rocker.

Rare Breed are so comfortable in their sound that songs like this feel like a jam session, effortless while still being instantly memorable. The building musical interlude lifts the track to another level before dropping back into calm, a trick The Doors used so well and one Rare Breed clearly have in their arsenal too.

Good Times takes things up a notch, sounding like Lenny Kravitz jamming with The Black Crowes. There is an element of stoner rock drawn into this one too, again showing the band’s depth and talent. The chorus vocal will stick with you for a very long time.

There is something genuinely original and authentic about this song, and the band in general. They have a controlled fire and passion that often feels right on the point of boiling over. Once again, the middle eight becomes a total work of art, with impressive timing changes and the kind of jam that sounds loose but is, in reality, so tight it appears effortless.

English Rose cranks in with a little more funk. The swagger and drive make this one hit immediately. The interplay between the lead vocal and lead guitar is truly impressive, filling the song out without ever overcrowding it.

There is also a great use of space here, allowing the track to breathe and flow. So many bands try to fill every second, but Rare Breed are, well, a rare example of a band happy to lean back and let the groove do the work. The song builds and builds to a powerful crescendo and then, just like that, it is gone.

Beggin’ (On My Knees) is a more straight-ahead track and really showcases what Rare Breed can do in three compact minutes. The soul, the rock, the funk and the blues are all here, played in their own unmistakable way. The hanging verse is brilliantly juxtaposed by the full-on assault of the chorus, proving Rare Breed can cut it with modern hard rock bands too.

There is also one of those brilliant feeling-driven guitar solos. It adds to the song rather than becoming an excuse for the guitarist to impress the girls in the front row. It serves the track, and that makes it even better.

Amsterdam glides in beautifully and leads into what is a truly stunning song. There is a hint of the legendary Quireboys here, but with a deeper flow and a stronger sense of storytelling. This is an incredible track and a standout among standout songs.

It tells a story, but not in an obvious way. More like a folk song wrapped in blues rock soul. The build into the chorus is as good as anything you will hear this year. The bass and guitar section is brave and executed perfectly, adding another layer before the song slopes back to basics. Rare Breed are a band of contrasts, but those contrasts work incredibly well.

If the world was a fair place, Amsterdam would be a global hit. That is how much we love this track.

The album ends with Howlin’, which kicks in with a solid, anthemic drum beat before the guitar lets loose. The stomping verse flows beautifully before building into an uplifting chorus. Again, the guitar work is stunning, understated when needed and unleashed when required.

The “art of the jam” is on display throughout, to the point where it makes us want to drive the 300 miles to see them live. We can only imagine they are incredible on stage. It is rare for a band to capture the energy of the live experience without sounding flat or caged in, but Rare Breed manage it. The solo work is never overindulgent. It just fits, adding depth, feel and attitude exactly where it is needed.

As a debut album, this is seriously impressive. Rare Breed have managed to create something that feels classic without being dated, soulful without being soft, heavy without losing its groove, and technical without ever showing off for the sake of it. There is blues, rock, funk, soul and swagger running through every track, but more importantly, there is identity.

This is not a band trying to sound like anyone else. They have taken their influences, dragged them through the dirt, soaked them in soul and turned them into something that feels completely their own.

Rare Breed by name, rare breed by nature. And if this debut is anything to go by, this is one breed that deserves to spread far beyond the North-West.