Album Cover and Photo by Rob Blackham – Blackham Images
Award-winning blues rock duo When Rivers Meet’s new album “Aces Are High” has been pushed back one week to the new release date of Friday 15th September 2023. Released on the band’s independent label One Road Records, the album is available to pre-order HERE.
The news follows the band’s recent performances on Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive Seat Mediterranean Cruise which saw When Rivers Meet perform alongside big name acts including Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Blackberry Smoke, and Grammy Award winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, plus their standout performance at Steelhouse Festival in Wales.
Metal Talk says about the new album, “Aces Are High is likely to be the album that powers When Rivers Meet to the next level,” while Vive Le Rock says, “From the opening punch of ‘Infected’ through to the title track, this is by far the hardest When Rivers Meet have rocked out, and I’m all for it when it produces fist in the air bangers like the punky ‘Perfect Stranger’.”
The new album features the singles “Play My Game,” “Perfect Stranger,” and the current single “Seen It All Before.”
“Seen It All Before” is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the official music video below.
“We’ve always stuck to a certain structure to create our songs, says WRMs vocalist, mandolin and violin player, Grace Bond, “but with this song we removed any limitations, and we consider it to be a really unique song for our repertoire and from the new album, Aces Are High.”
Add’s WRMs guitarist Aaron Bond, “Fundamentally we consider ourselves a duo, and even though this song has percussion, it features a strong guitar line and vocal hook, which alongside fully produced songs keep us rooted as a duo.”
The previous single, “Perfect Stranger,” is about how husband and wife duo Aaron and Grace Bond first met. Says Grace, “Our relationship is intense and creative. We wanted to write a song that reflects that tension throughout.” The music video reflects the passion and drive of When Rivers Meet.
The first single taken from the album, “Play My Game,” is a groove-laden, driving blues track with rich riffs and searing vocals. It’s a bold statement of intent with a badass video to boot, capturing a poker game gone south leading to a high-speed car chase and daring aeroplane escape.
Regarding the new album “Aces Are High,” the duo says, “As our music is progressing, we’re finding our sound even more. When we went in the studio this time, we’ve never been so sure on what we wanted to create—we had a really clear vision and have stuck to it.”
“Before we held back on being too rocky, but this time we allowed ourselves to create what we wanted to hear, without restricting ourselves. We also allowed ourselves to express the different colours to our music with tracks like “Golden” and “By Your Side,” so this album has more extremes. We still call upon our influences from all the years but remain true to ourselves to create music we love.”
“Another classy release, as might be expected, from one of the UK’s most exciting and creative bands.” – Record Collector
“Aces and stakes are high here… this is a royal flush.” – Powerplay, Rating: 10/10
“Essex blues rock duo slam back in fuzz-tone triumph!” – Vive Le Rock
“When Rivers Meet are a true phenomenon.” – Metal Talk
“I have been entranced by When Rivers Meet’s previous output and ‘Aces Are High’ is no different.” – Music News, Rating: 5 Stars
“When Rivers Meet’s joy is so infectious you cannot resist them.” – Maximum Volume Music
“When Rivers Meet’s energy is contagious.” – Rock N Load
“The sky really is the limit for When Rivers Meet.” – Devils Gate Music
“When Rivers Meet are brave, unrepentant, and fearless.” – Raw Ramp
Since their formation in 2019, the husband-and-wife duo Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar) have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Americana, folk, blues, and rock in a distinctly unique manner, they have been showered with many awards and accolades.
Their forthcoming album “Aces Are High” follows two critically acclaimed records: “We Fly Free” (2020), which reached No.1 in the iTunes Blues Album Chart, and “Saving Grace” (2021), which charted at No.2 in the UK Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, No.5 UK Official Album Downloads Chart, and No.6 UK Official Independent Albums Chart. These were based purely on chart reporting digital sales and didn’t include physical sales.
When Rivers Meet were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band Of The Year, making them the only band to win this category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall Of Fame for this category.
In 2021 When Rivers Meet were voted Best New Band at Planet Rock’s The Rocks Awards, and in 2022 won Planet Rock’s Blues Power Award and Album Of The Year Award with Saving Grace.
“Aces Are High” finds the duo returning with a more powerful sound than ever before. Aaron’s gnarled riffs hit harder alongside his deep vocal tones, while Grace’s vocals range wider with tantalising bite as they effortlessly climb scales like her striking slide mandolin which accompanies the likes of “Trail To Avalon.”
The immediacy of the new record is showcased from the off with the hard-hitting opener “Infected,” while no punches are pulled on the kick-out-time anthem “5 Minutes Until Midnight.” Nevertheless, its contrasting sides find delicate moments such as the reflective acoustic song “Golden” and the shimmering Americana of “By Your Side.”
ACES ARE HIGH – TRACK LISITING
1. Infected
2. Seen It All Before
3. Play My Game
4. Golden
5. Aces Are High
6. Trail To Avalon
7. Perfect Stranger
8. The Secret
9. By Your Side
10. 5 Minutes Until Midnight
When Rivers Meet developed a powerful live reputation with their first headline tour last year, which they played to capacity crowds across the country.
This year they supported Reef of their UK tour and have just finished their second UK headline tour in larger venues, along with special guest, Brian May guitar prodigy, Arielle, receiving rave reviews once again.
This summer, the band played numerous festivals including Steelhouse Festival in Wales, and Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean III Cruise featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Blackberry Smoke.
LIVE APPEARANCES
SEPTEMBER
16th – Hop Harvest Festival, Farnham
27th – O2 Academy 2, Islington (Sold Out)
OCTOBER
6th – Cornwall Rocks Festival, Looe
NOVEMBER
12th – Whitby Blues, Rhythm & Rock, Whitby
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