New album by the self-taught multi-instrumentalist.

"I love the man and I hate the man," says Joe Bonamassa of Henrik Freischlader. "Why do I love him – 'cause he's a brilliant young guitar player. Why do I hate him – 'cause he makes me work hard every night!" High praise indeed from someone of Bonamassa's stature, who Freischlader opened up for in 2007, before going on to tour with the likes of B.B. King, Peter Green and his hero Gary Moore. The Cologne-born, self-taught multi-instrumentalist made the guitar his main instrument after hearing Moore's 'Cold Day In Hell' on the radio. His recording career began in 2006 and he now has four studio albums and two live releases to his name. Originally billed as The Henrik Freischlader Band, the guitarist reverted to using just his name in 2009, and for latest effort 'Night Train To Budapest', Freischlader handles vocals, guitar, bass and drums with just long-term cohort Moritz Fuhrhop helping out on organ.

Save for funky opener 'Point Of View' and the riff-driven boogie of 'Shame', '...Budapest' is a largely mid-tempo album. The likes of 'Everything Is Gone', 'A Better Man', 'If This Ain't Love' and 'Down The Road' are built around bluesy swaggering grooves while 'Gimme All You Got' incorporates an unusual rhythm and the closing 'Your Loving Was So Good' brings to mind Led Zeppelin's 'When The Levee Breaks'. On the gentler side, 'Caroline' is a sweet Country-tinged number with a catchy melody but it's the emotion drenched ballads 'Thinking About You' and the sprawling ten-minute 'My Woman', with their mournful solos and enormous swirls of Hammond Organ, that truly demonstrate the breadth of Freischlader's skills.

While his guitar playing is undoubtedly at the forefront of his music, Freischlader's understated vocal delivery adds a certain grittiness and gives his version of the Blues a contemporary edge. Clever lyrics and the ability to encompass elements of Rock, Jazz and Soul to his sound make him quite unique and recognizable within this genre.

Ant Heeks