I really wish I was writing this under different circumstances. As I'm sure you all know quite well by now, our good fellow Paul Di'Anno - one of the most unique vocalists in the history of heavy metal, a man who redefined many notions associated with heavy music during his time as the frontman of Iron Maiden - has left the building. It seems he was suffering from a number of health issues recently, and the repeated cancelling / rescheduling of his intended final European and South American tours were a clear sign he wasn't doing very well, unfortunately. These were times of rehabilitation for the man, both in his health and his career, and it sucks that he didn't have enough time to really sort himself out - because there's good reason to believe that (though in his typically stubborn, erratic way) he was indeed trying hard to get himself back on track this time. I'm damn sure this "Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse" CD wasn't meant to be the man's swansong when it comes to original music, but that's how things turned out to be, unfortunately - and knowing the singer is now gone to the other side sure gives the listening experience a whole different vibe, adding some extra layers of meaning to what was originally supposed to be an upbeat, no-fucks-being-given ride.
While in Croatia, during his reabilitation process after some delicate knee surgeries, Paul Di'Anno crossed paths with two local guitarists, Hrvode Madiraca and Ante 'Pupi' Pupačić, who are both involved with a power/thrash outfit named Rapid Strike (formely named Azazel) and had a number of more traditional Metal tracks demoed for the purposes of a side project. I don't how just how much Stjepan Juras (an Iron Maiden biographer who have acted as both manager and guardian angel for Di'Anno for nearly a decade, so God bless him) got involved here, but fact is that Di'Anno seems to have enjoyed the songs, and agreed to write lyrics and record vocals for what would become a new metal proposition named Warhorse. Not the most original band name by any means (I'm sure Nick Simper would like to have a word or two with you about it, Paul), but an apt choice when it comes to describe the project's spirit, so nevermind. With the much needed help of a few scenesters to fill the blanks - including some members and ex-members of local heroes Osmi Putnik, as well as bass player Becky Baldwin (now playing with none other than Mercyful Fate) and drummer Joe Lazarus (Steve Harris' nephew, and a much in-demand sticksman-for-hire for many projects and bands) - ten tracks were finished, and now comprise the "Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse" I hold in my very hands. To avoid further confusion, I'll just keep on calling the band Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse, as a way to diferentiate it from any namesakes (and oh yeah, some reviews of the old 1970's Warhorse are indeed a possibility around here) and to make it easier to be found in the blog's index.
As the musical contents, well, it's mostly good, unapologetic heavy metal fun, though not without its flaws. For me, opening track "Warhorse" is the best by far, a simple, yet extremely efficient heavy rocker with lyrics that (although not really making that much sense under close scrutiny) have a nice, somewhat evocative feel to it, like Paul is using this mythical, powerful equine as a metaphor to his own life and (often troubled) times as a metal champion working his way back to the top. I would have toned the gang-shouting down a bit, most of all in the chorus, but it's a truly nice track nonetheless, and perhaps one of the very best songs by Paul Di'Anno since at least the late '90s - and God knows how many dross he did record during this period (we'll get to it eventually).
Though none of the following tracks work quite as well as this very strong opening, most work under the same formula, with a handful of simple-but-effective riffs put to use in some pretty straightforward heavy metal fare. Paul Di'Anno was never a highly skilled poet to be frank, but he sure had an individualistic way to write lyrics, trying to evoke particular feelings or situations rather than engaging in any serious storytelling - and it works quite well in most of the songs here featured, such as "Get Get Ready" (an uplifting tune about, you know, enjoying rock and roll) and "Here Comes the Night" (ditto), two very catchy tunes that are guaranteed to make old metal geezers shake their heads and pump fists in the air. I also really enjoy "Forever Bound", a good-hearted semi-ballad where Di'Anno express some sincere gratitude to those who had helped him while he was down. Pretty heartfelt lyrics here, and the musicianship also works to good effect. But if you want to hear Di'Anno's voice really shine, look no further than "Stop the War", a song about the war in Ukraine that really allows Paul to stretch his vocal pipes. The man still had it, no doubt about that, and this song proves it.
There are two covers in the package (The Champs' "Tequila" and Depeche Mode's "Precious"), and none of them are particularly interesting IMO, though at least the latter is a not-remotely-obvious song choice and deserves some respect because of that. I'm not that convinced about "Go" either, though this one is also worth a mention in the lyrics department, as Di'Anno (while telling a not very subtle tale about a female companion that seemingly overstayed her welcome) gives quite an interesting tone to the "never will I bend, never will I break anymore" chorus - like he is, once again, singing to convince himself, more than anyone else. "The Doubt Within" is a more convoluted, serious track that manages to create a pretty effective, somewhat ominous atmosphere - but the choice to keep things simple and direct is somewhat ill-advised here IMO, as the song is cut way too short and really deserved some extra minute or two to fully develop its ideas. The football-hooligan shouting that appears in most tracks also gets quite annoying after a while, sometimes sounding like a silly attempt to give some tough-guy quality to songs that didn't really needed it. But these are minor flaws, to be fair, and "Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse" is mostly a pleasant, enjoyable record that never sounds over-pretentious and easily fulfills most of its promises.
And oh well, I could not finish this review without mentioning the final track, "Going Home". I wasn't at all impressed the first time I heard it, but then Mr. Di'Anno's untimely death was reported and, oh man, did this particular tune gain a whole new meaning or what? Now, this rough-and-ready heavy rocker sounds like Di'Anno is saying goodbye to us all: "and now I'm going home / to the place where I belong / Now I've lived it all / Somewhere I have to atone". As I said earlier, no Nobel-prize-winning poetry here, but these simple lines really carry the message across: his time here was almost finished, and he somehow knew it, and he was ready to get back home. No fade-out here, by the way: the song ends somewhat abruptly, as if the guy singing it didn't wanted to make a fuss in his last hooray. In the end, it's quite an adequate way for a man like Paul Di'Anno to leave the stage: crowd still cheering, guitars still roaring, ready to enjoy whatever else the night has to offer. Hope he's doing fine now, all pain and physical hindrances forever left behind, and let's raise some glasses for one of the true metal legends. Auf Wiedersehen, Paul, now you're forever running free.
Paul Di'Anno (V), Hrvoje Madiraca (G), Ante 'Pupi' Pupačić (G).
01. Warhorse 3:53
02. Get Get Ready 4:29
03. Go 2:53
04. Stop the War 3:30
05. The Doubt Within 3:24
06. Here Comes the Night 3:50
07. Tequila 2:21
08. Forever Bound 4:20
09. Precious 4:16
10. Going Home 3:28
Have you been involved with any of the bands mentioned here? Have any extra info and/or corrections? Please e-mail me (drequon@gmail.com) and let me know!
