Blues Against The Machine - Vol. II

Album: Vol. II
Size: 86,4 MB
Time: 37:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2026
Styles: Blues/Roots
Art: Front

1. Blues Against The Machine (3:22)
2. Easy Fix (2:37)
3. Bright Light (3:33)
4. Respect (3:13)
5. Spiders In My Car (3:59)
6. This World Ain't Right (3:22)
7. Iron Will Never Be Gold (4:53)
8. Maybe (3:22)
9. There's No Stronger Bond Than Love (4:16)
10. Raise It High (4:23)

Take these six seasoned artists, and put them in the same band, and you get a dedicated group who want something more, and that in a relatively short time proved this - with everyone in the group contributing to a hefty lovechild of an album produced by Budda Guedes - creating an insanely tight, precise and entertaining band that truly will excite the audience with its mixture of blues, jump, boogie and rock 'n roll.

With members from Portugal, Spain, Norway, Poland and Italy, you get an eclectic mix of culture, but also a pretty unstoppable stream of musical ideas, storytelling and general outlook on life - well anchored within the traditions of them ol' blues. Innovative and with respect for traditions, something new, with a keen eye on the old.

Armed with an already impressive track record that reflects both individual and collective excellence, the band headlined the final night of the prestigious Blues in Hell festival in Norway, captivating the audience with their irresistible groove and on-stage chemistry. Their debut album, launched at the event, not only marked their first release in Norway but also a major milestone in their international journey. Blues Against The Machine doesn’t just play the blues - they reinvent it, elevate it, and launch it into a whole new dimension.

Personnel: Budda Guedes (guitar, vocals); Eric "Slim" Zahl (guitar, vocals); Bart Szopinski (piano, organ); Danny Del Toro (harmonica); Vasco Moura (bass); Nik Taccori (drums).

Vol. II mc
Vol. II gofile

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Blues Against The Machine - Blues Against The Machine

Size: 266 MB
Time: 42:44
File: Flac
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues, jump, west coast blues
Art: Front

1. Hold On Stay Strong (4:32)
2. I Ain't Got No Money (2:44)
3. I'm The One To Blame (4:57)
4. It Is Causing Me Pain (7:23)
5. I Need Love (3:23)
6. I Hate That You Are On My Mind All The Time (3:57)
7. Silver & Gold (4:02)
8. Get Wild On (3:15)
9. I've Got A Dream (3:58)
10. Europa Express (4:27)

The name Blues Against the Machine immediately brings to mind the groundbreaking hard rock band Rage Against the Machine—a group that never shirked its political views and shook up the music world with a unique blend of heavy rock and rap influences. In that light, you could see Blues Against the Machine as a kind of reaction to the rise of artificial intelligence: a statement that real music is still made by real people—musicians who are masters of their instruments. Blues Against the Machine came about more or less by chance when six musicians from five different countries met at the European Blues Challenge. They began playing together from their own perspectives, and over time, they found the right chemistry and musical foundation to continue as a group. Their style is firmly rooted in old-school blues, with clear references to bands like Roomful of Blues and Sugar Ray Rayford. The band consists of:

– Portuguese guitarist Budda Guedes, – Norwegian guitarist Eric Slim Zahl, – Polish keyboardist Bart Szopin, – Spanish harmonica player Danny Del Toro, – Italian drummer Nik Taccori, and – Portuguese bassist Vasco Moura.

The debut album contains ten songs: seven composed by Budda Guedes, two by Danny Del Toro, and one by Eric Slim Zahl. The result is a colorful yet tight ensemble, superbly played—which is not surprising considering the band members' musical backgrounds. The album is a lively mix of blues, jump style, and West Coast boogie. "Hold On to Stay Strong" opens energetically with an up-tempo blues stylistically reminiscent of Monster Mike Welch. "I Ain't Got No Money" is an irresistible West Coast swing shuffle full of playfulness and groove. With "I Am the One to Blame," the tempo slows slightly, leading up to one of the album's highlights: the captivating slow blues "It Is Causing Me Pain." Then, "I Need Love" brings a touch of rock 'n' roll, with keyboardist Bart Szopin and harmonica player Danny Del Toro giving it their all. "I Hate That You Are on My Mind All the Time" is a gritty, raw blues slither in which the band members complement each other beautifully. "Silver and Gold" opens with a rhythm reminiscent of the sound of railroad work—a hypnotic groove, sung by Eric Slim Zahl and beautifully rounded out by Szopin's piano playing. The opening of "Get Wild On" evokes Jimi Hendrix, but develops into a funky number with a powerful guitar riff. "I've Got a Dream" is a different kettle of fish and feels like a pure tearjerker, while "Europa Express" closes the album with an impressive harmonica performance by Danny Del Toro. Blues Against the Machine brings together six experienced European musicians who, each from their own cultural background, offer a fresh yet respectful approach to the blues. With reverence for the old masters, but also with the compelling feeling that collaboration and humanity still form the core of true music.

Blues Against The Machine FLAC

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