Andreas Diehlmann Band - Point Of No Return (2019)

Blues rock from German-speaking countries has produced several strong acts in recent years, such as Kai Strauss, Henrik Freischlader and Timo Gross. Andreas Diehlmann is the next on this list. The trio from Kassel, Germany, alongside Diehlmann consisting of bass player Volker Zeller and drummer Tom Bonn, is not ready for their test piece with 'Point Of No Return': in 2017 'ADB' was released, a year later 'Your Blues Ain't Mine 'and early this year' Live 2019 '.

Diehlmann offers pleasant rocking blues in which his great guitar playing and raw, raspy voice along the lines of Walter Trout, Danny Bryant and Julian Sas claim the leading role. On top of that, the German only calls on someone else's work once, but he knows how to handle it even though he has a reasonably played cover like Slim Harpo’s I’m A King Bee.

You Are My Woman is a wonderful opener after which Zeller's bass predominates in the title piece. Then it's time for the traditional slow blues, but Don’t Go is also good for licking your fingers, as well as the smoothly swinging ZZ Top-like rocker Long Forgotten Nightmare. Finally, a separate mention for the two closing events: after a fantastic opening riff, Deadman Walking is one of the highlights of the album. Here Comes The Rain kicks off with such a magnificent guitar motif and keeps you glued to your CD player as a listener.

Yes, yes, Mr Strauss, Mr Freischlader and Gross: you can arrange a piece to make room for Andreas Diehlmann! ~Joop van Rossem