Vince Leigh’s Single Review: Jude Judas by Shotgun Mistress
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
In the unforgiving, relentless landscape of Australian rock ‘n’ roll, Shotgun Mistress bursts forth like a supernova of sound, a revelation that detonated upon our collective eardrums back in 2020. With a fervour that refuses to be tamed, they’ve conjured a musical alchemy that marries the primal, high-octane essence of hard rock with virtuosic finesse, consistently setting stages ablaze with their electrifying live performances. At the forefront of this tumultuous sonic tempest stands the enigmatic Glenn Patrick, a vocal sorcerer whose range soars to ethereal heights. It’s this very attribute that reaches its zenith on their latest track, Jude Judas, a tantalizing prelude to their forthcoming second album, Kings Of The Revolution.
On this track, Shotgun Mistress encapsulates the very essence of their being, intricately weaving the visceral impact of unbridled power with the opulent melodies that serve as the bedrock of their signature, guitar-driven tumult. As the composition unfurls, it becomes increasingly evident that Shotgun Mistress’s true wizardry lies in their ability to seamlessly intertwine these disparate elements into a red-hot hard rock tapestry. Dave Lee and Ben Curnow’s rhythm section forms the unyielding foundation. The intricate chorus melodies reveal the band’s depth while Matt Wilcock’s radiant guitar solo intensifies anticipation. The band’s consummate artistry is further accentuated as they navigate choruses with an unwavering surge of vitality, weaving layers of complexity and dynamism that leave the listener utterly satisfied.
Shotgun Mistress’s ascent in the Australian hard rock echelons has revealed as much about the state of the genre in 2024 as it has about these new purveyors. Their debut album established them at a chart level, with tracks like No Friend Of Mine reaching #13 on the Independent Air Singles Charts. Chart-toppers such as Save Me From Myself and Glorious Machine underscored their new-found appeal, while Collide and Bleed Me Out continued to the band’s presence on the charts. As we gaze into the horizon of 2024, Shotgun Mistress stands poised for an epic year, with their second album scheduled for release in June and a prominent February slot at Glamfest, where they’ll share the stage with legendary acts like Slaughter, Lynch Mob, H.E.A.T, and more.
