Musings: Spectre - Lonesome Gambler

It’s been a minute since my last music review on the blog. To be honest, nothing that landed in my inbox in the past two weeks got me excited to write until my favourite indie metal label, Dying Victims Productions (Venator, Running Maiden, Raptore, Animalize, and many more), released Spectre’s latest EP, Lonesome Gambler, last Friday. Spectre is an Australian duo consisting of Will Spectre and David Harrington-George. Lonesome Gambler is a four-track EP available digitally, but if you purchase the CD or tape versions, it includes five bonus tracks collecting the entire output from the band. I’ll have all the details below.

Spectre and Lonesome Gambler have been on my radar ever since pre-orders went up earlier this year. They have a unique sound that I really dig. Old school, late ‘70s/early ‘80s hard rock with a bit of NWOBHM thrown in to sweeten the deal. “Hero of the Illusion” has a sound deeply steeped in classic rock circa 1979-1980 and it sets the tone for the remainder of this brilliant set of songs. “Wolfbane” is a stellar track with equally strong vintage vibes. The title track follows, a terrific slower-paced, nostalgia-tinted song. “Turning the Wheel” is a synth-driven rock anthem reminiscent of Blue Oyster Cult, featuring superb guitar work. This is where the EP ends if you don’t get it on physical media, but have no fear, the five bonus tracks are available on Dying Victims’ Bandcamp and Spectre’s own Bandcamp for a couple of bucks.

We continue at song number 5 from the previous release, 2022’s two-song single released on Dying Victims, “Drifter”, a kick-ass, catchy rocker and its B-side, “The Black Jewel”, a song about the time of the knights. Both tunes are fantastic. Next up, available through Spectre’s own Bandcamp, we have the 2018 single, “Hard Attacks”, a solid classic rock track, albeit sounding less-polished than the songs found on Lonesome Gambler and Drifter. The last two songs are taken from the two-song 2017 debut release, “Silver Invaders”, a cool NWOBHM song with hints of early Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, and its B-side, “Stand Alone”, a fun head-bobbing tune to take us out.

Dying Victims continues to hit home runs with these signings of some of the best hard rock, speed metal, thrash metal, and trad metal bands. Spectre delivers their best release yet and I highly recommend picking up the album on CD to get all nine songs. Otherwise, buy the four different releases digitally to have the entire collection, it’s well worth it! Lonesome Gambler just cracked my top ten albums of the year so far, it’s that great! Give these Aussies a spin, you’ll thank me later.

Dying Victims Productions’ Lonesome Gambler Page on Bandcamp: https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/lonesome-gambler

Dying Victims Productions’ Drifter/The Black Jewel Page on Bandcamp: https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/spectre-drifter-the-black-jewel

Spectre on Bandcamp: https://hcrspectre.bandcamp.com/