Apologies for the terrible pun, but Marty And The Bad Punch have actually delivered a knockout.

The Marty in question here is Marty Punch, a German born guitarist and song-writer who has spent fifteen years as a member of Munich-based Blues Rock band Velvet Steel. Amassing a number of songs over a three-year period, Punch recorded a number of demos at home with the intention of eventually releasing an album under his own name with a number of professional musicians along for the ride.

Fellow German Martin Motnik has the most impressive CV, having toured or recorded with the likes of Uli Jon Roth, Doug Aldrich and Don Dokken. Brit Will Jones is an online session drummer and keyboardist Robert Karasek is a music teacher, session musician and magazine writer, while vocalist David Cagle has recorded with Liberty 'N' Justice and Majestic and came to Marty after being recommended by Foreigner front-man Kelly Hansen. Thanks to the technology in recording techniques available today, none of the band members have actually met in person, but you'd never tell.

Musically, it's a straight-forward (some would say "middle of the road") Rock album that features a varying selection of styles that mostly harks back to the seventies. As well as the predominantly U.S.-inspired Classic Melodic Hard Rock sound, you'll also find elements of Blues and West Coast that somehow occasionally meanders into an unintentional Southern Rock feel. Though the choruses aren't exactly colossal, there's a wonderful melodic feel throughout the record with some big vocal harmonies and the kind of impressive musicianship that you should expect from seasoned professionals. There are a number of influences I hear that range from the likes of REO Speedwagon, Styx, Kansas, Eagles, Chicago, Steely Dan, with a little smattering of Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes-type Soul.

Apologies for the terrible pun, but Marty And The Bad Punch have actually delivered a knockout!

Ant Heeks