Gary Dranow is a guitar player from Park City, Utah and along with The Manic Emotions, he has really made a name for himself in the blues and rock music scenes. Drawing influence from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC, he obtains inspiration from life experiences to write his songs and is a source of motivation to fans and aspiring musicians alike.

The King Is Dead is one of his latest singles and was released on 24/03/2023. The title of the track is a metaphor for love, with love being the king. The song was written during a time when world love was hard to find with wars, racism and prejudice tearing everything apart.

The track is a blues-infused rock song, that is quite laid-back in style. With some meaty basslines that gives the track a bit of a swagger, the guitar work, once again, takes the listener on a nostalgic trip back to the classic rock years of the 80’s and 90’s, and with the blues element creeping in throughout the track and during the solos, this song has quite a unique sound to it.

With male lead vocals that are classic in style, but with a slight quirkiness to them, the song has an edge that keeps it modern and up to date, and with female backups, there is a great contrast in the vocals. This creates a depth to the song that pulls the listener in and manages to keep them there.

This is yet another great track from Gary Dranow and, as a musician that turned to music to help him with the aftereffects of a stroke and to cope with bipolar disorder, he really is an inspiration. Please, if you haven’t done so already, check out Gary and his music. You really will not be disappointed!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum