Bigfoot: Bigfoot (Frontiers)

Here’s a promising new act discovered by the Frontiers label this year (and one that’s an actual band, not a project). English rockers Bigfoot have a couple of self-released EPs under their belts (which I’ll be tracking down shortly), but they’re making their full-length debut in 2017 with this self-titled album.

The band cites influences as varied as The Eagles and Pantera, but what I’m hearing on this album is the second coming of Tyketto. Bigfoot brings the big, dynamic hooks, the bluesy, soulful vocals and the all-around accessibility that Tyketto did (and still does) so well. This is some super-catchy melodic rock, but there’s substance under those hooks and melodies. Singer Antony Ellis has a huge voice (seriously, like Danny Vaughn huge) that would steal the show on every song if it wasn’t for the equally powerful twin lead guitars (courtesy of Sam Millar and Mick McCullagh). Bassist Matt Avery and drummer Tom Aspinall keep the whole thing moving and grooving.

The Bigfoot debut is a firecracker. You get eleven top notch melodic rock songs that manage to call back to the late ’80s and early ’90s sound and yet still sound timeless. That’s the power of a good rock n’ roll record, and Bigfoot definitely qualifies. I love this one from start to finish, but if you’re looking for a couple of “seal the deal” songs to get someone to check out this album, it’s hard to beat “Tell Me a Lie,” “Prisoner of War” and “The Devil in Me.”

I didn’t expect a relatively unknown band to release a contender for best melodic rock album of the year, but that’s exactly what Bigfoot has done here. Fans of classic era melodic rock like Tyketto, Winger and Mr. Big are going to absolutely love this one.