The Hot One Two - Virtues (2025)
Posted: 09 Oct 2025, 14:28
The Hot One Two - Virtues (2025)
Year : 2025
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 89 mb
Bio:
Founded in Cambridge in 2017 by bassist Nick Blackburn, lead guitarist Nick Manners, and drummer Joe Chivers, THE HOT ONE TWO is a hard rock quintet boasting the swagger of 1980s greats and souped-up with punchy modern metal riffs.As recently as 2018 The Hot One Two attracting attention from local festival circuits and radio shows such as BBC Introducing, which quickly established them as mainstays in the UK New Wave Of Classic Rock (NWOCR) scene. With the addition of charismatic frontman Simon West and veteran guitarist Kev Baker, The Hot One Two achieved escape velocity in 2019.On the heels of successful singles and their debut EP ‘Come What May’, the band signed a deal with Tower Rok Band Management in 2022. Soon they were performing in front of larger crowds and knocking them dead with their catchy old-school foundation and supercharged modern sound. Building upon their tight and energetic stage performances, The Hot One Two have worked extensively with Kris Barras on music videos that accompany their releases.“This band has the potential to go through the stratosphere in 2023, and I’m just pleased to have caught them in an intimate venue before that happens. In the meantime I implore you to go and see them if they are playing a show in your area, you won’t regret it.” During the pandemic, while other bands worried or went by the wayside entirely, The Hot One Two wrote and self-produced the aptly named 2022 EP ‘Unrestrained’ featuring their flagship single ‘Bleed On Me’ to immense popular and critical success. These guys are on the ascendency and are truly the ones to watch as the smoke clears.And that’s just the beginning! The Hot One Two will be performing up and down the country with festival slots at Call of the Wild, Firestorm, Hard Rock Hell Sleeze, Hard Rock Hell 16 , SOS and SavFest. Between live gigs, they will be releasing six singles with accompanying music videos, each one relating to one of the seven deadly sins, along with an album titled Superbia set for release in Q4 of 2023. The first single will be called ‘The Fray’ which represents wrath and will be coming out in April.2023 is shaping up to be a breakout year for the charismatic Cambridge outfit so stay tuned for live dates and upcoming releases!
Album:
Let me tell you something, kids: I’ve been rocking since cassette tapes tangled like spaghetti and MTV actually played music. I had an older brother that drove an Escort XR3 (flash!), and the rewind button on the tape player used to ‘ping’ out the centre console when it hit the end of the tape. This isn’t a form of claim to fame, it’s a statement of fact, that in that 30 year period, I’ve listened to a fair amount of rock. Good and bad. Good being authentically rock and roll, and bad being, well, perhaps more artificial wanna be recreations of authenticity. And just when I thought the rock gods had gone off the boil, taking a little nap, The Hot One Two drop ‘Virtues‘; a rockin’ uppercut to the jaw of mediocrity. Released on October 10th, this album doesn’t just try to rock, it actually is rock! It throws it a party, spikes the punch, and sets the drum kit on fire.‘Virtues‘ is a Frankenstein of everything that made rock glorious: crunchy riffs, soaring solos, and vocals that sound like they were recorded inside a whiskey barrel. It’s got the DNA of Aerosmith, the attitude of Guns N’ Roses, and just enough polish to make it radio-ready without losing its edge. I wouldn’t say its dripping with uniqueness; it has no darker vibe and isn’t trying to occupy an artistic edge. I think The Hot One Two are just trying to be a straight up rock band. And it works. Unapologetically loud, proudly melodic, and tighter than your old leather trousers.The percussion on ‘Virtues‘ deserves its own postcode. The drummer doesn’t just keep time, he kinda controls it. Every track is driven by upbeat, relentless, bang-your-head-and-spill-your-pint kind of drumming. It’s the kind of rhythm section that makes you want to quit your job and start a garage band.I’d like to say Simon West’s vocals are a perfect blend of grit and charm; like a rock frontman who’s been through heartbreak, bar fights, and still knows how to work a crowd. Most of that is true, however, the vocal sound is slightly softer than I would expect, when accompanied by Nick Manner’s roaring Les Paul. In fairness, the smoother edge to Simon’s voice probably acts as quite the balance to Manner’s grinding chords. There’s enough punch to make you smirk and enough heart to make you raise a lighter (or phone torch, if you must).‘The Reaper‘ – The first track is a riff-laden anthem that feels like a stalwart of rocks past. Thumping, consistent, sing along choruses.‘Blow Your Mind‘ – I think Blackstone Cherry just called and want their riff back. Whilst obviously not a direct copy, there’s defo some southern swagger and banging pace to this number. Listen, you’ll get it. ‘Saint Restraint‘ – A slower more melodic groove, demonstrating the ability of the band to be more heart if they need to be. 80’s inspired for sure, definitely got Motley Crue and Steel Panther in there somewhere!Final Verdict: The Cambridge originators (there’s a good band name!) have produced a great classic rock album.As someone who’s spent three decades defending rock from synths, auto-tune, and the rise of banjos in pop music, I say this with joy: ‘Virtues‘ is a great rock album. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s got more hooks than an 80’s slasher movie.Welcome to the party, new fans. And to The Hot One Two; keep the amps warm. We’ll see you on tour.
Line Up:
Simon West – Vocals
Nick Blackburn – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nick Manners – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joe Chivers – Drums
Tracklist:
01. The Reaper
02. Alive Again
03. Blow Your Mind
04. Let The Good Times Roll
05. Saint Restraint
06. Grindstone
07. The Edge
08. Distant Love Affair
09. For You
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
Year : 2025
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 89 mb
Bio:
Founded in Cambridge in 2017 by bassist Nick Blackburn, lead guitarist Nick Manners, and drummer Joe Chivers, THE HOT ONE TWO is a hard rock quintet boasting the swagger of 1980s greats and souped-up with punchy modern metal riffs.As recently as 2018 The Hot One Two attracting attention from local festival circuits and radio shows such as BBC Introducing, which quickly established them as mainstays in the UK New Wave Of Classic Rock (NWOCR) scene. With the addition of charismatic frontman Simon West and veteran guitarist Kev Baker, The Hot One Two achieved escape velocity in 2019.On the heels of successful singles and their debut EP ‘Come What May’, the band signed a deal with Tower Rok Band Management in 2022. Soon they were performing in front of larger crowds and knocking them dead with their catchy old-school foundation and supercharged modern sound. Building upon their tight and energetic stage performances, The Hot One Two have worked extensively with Kris Barras on music videos that accompany their releases.“This band has the potential to go through the stratosphere in 2023, and I’m just pleased to have caught them in an intimate venue before that happens. In the meantime I implore you to go and see them if they are playing a show in your area, you won’t regret it.” During the pandemic, while other bands worried or went by the wayside entirely, The Hot One Two wrote and self-produced the aptly named 2022 EP ‘Unrestrained’ featuring their flagship single ‘Bleed On Me’ to immense popular and critical success. These guys are on the ascendency and are truly the ones to watch as the smoke clears.And that’s just the beginning! The Hot One Two will be performing up and down the country with festival slots at Call of the Wild, Firestorm, Hard Rock Hell Sleeze, Hard Rock Hell 16 , SOS and SavFest. Between live gigs, they will be releasing six singles with accompanying music videos, each one relating to one of the seven deadly sins, along with an album titled Superbia set for release in Q4 of 2023. The first single will be called ‘The Fray’ which represents wrath and will be coming out in April.2023 is shaping up to be a breakout year for the charismatic Cambridge outfit so stay tuned for live dates and upcoming releases!
Album:
Let me tell you something, kids: I’ve been rocking since cassette tapes tangled like spaghetti and MTV actually played music. I had an older brother that drove an Escort XR3 (flash!), and the rewind button on the tape player used to ‘ping’ out the centre console when it hit the end of the tape. This isn’t a form of claim to fame, it’s a statement of fact, that in that 30 year period, I’ve listened to a fair amount of rock. Good and bad. Good being authentically rock and roll, and bad being, well, perhaps more artificial wanna be recreations of authenticity. And just when I thought the rock gods had gone off the boil, taking a little nap, The Hot One Two drop ‘Virtues‘; a rockin’ uppercut to the jaw of mediocrity. Released on October 10th, this album doesn’t just try to rock, it actually is rock! It throws it a party, spikes the punch, and sets the drum kit on fire.‘Virtues‘ is a Frankenstein of everything that made rock glorious: crunchy riffs, soaring solos, and vocals that sound like they were recorded inside a whiskey barrel. It’s got the DNA of Aerosmith, the attitude of Guns N’ Roses, and just enough polish to make it radio-ready without losing its edge. I wouldn’t say its dripping with uniqueness; it has no darker vibe and isn’t trying to occupy an artistic edge. I think The Hot One Two are just trying to be a straight up rock band. And it works. Unapologetically loud, proudly melodic, and tighter than your old leather trousers.The percussion on ‘Virtues‘ deserves its own postcode. The drummer doesn’t just keep time, he kinda controls it. Every track is driven by upbeat, relentless, bang-your-head-and-spill-your-pint kind of drumming. It’s the kind of rhythm section that makes you want to quit your job and start a garage band.I’d like to say Simon West’s vocals are a perfect blend of grit and charm; like a rock frontman who’s been through heartbreak, bar fights, and still knows how to work a crowd. Most of that is true, however, the vocal sound is slightly softer than I would expect, when accompanied by Nick Manner’s roaring Les Paul. In fairness, the smoother edge to Simon’s voice probably acts as quite the balance to Manner’s grinding chords. There’s enough punch to make you smirk and enough heart to make you raise a lighter (or phone torch, if you must).‘The Reaper‘ – The first track is a riff-laden anthem that feels like a stalwart of rocks past. Thumping, consistent, sing along choruses.‘Blow Your Mind‘ – I think Blackstone Cherry just called and want their riff back. Whilst obviously not a direct copy, there’s defo some southern swagger and banging pace to this number. Listen, you’ll get it. ‘Saint Restraint‘ – A slower more melodic groove, demonstrating the ability of the band to be more heart if they need to be. 80’s inspired for sure, definitely got Motley Crue and Steel Panther in there somewhere!Final Verdict: The Cambridge originators (there’s a good band name!) have produced a great classic rock album.As someone who’s spent three decades defending rock from synths, auto-tune, and the rise of banjos in pop music, I say this with joy: ‘Virtues‘ is a great rock album. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s got more hooks than an 80’s slasher movie.Welcome to the party, new fans. And to The Hot One Two; keep the amps warm. We’ll see you on tour.
Line Up:
Simon West – Vocals
Nick Blackburn – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nick Manners – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joe Chivers – Drums
Tracklist:
01. The Reaper
02. Alive Again
03. Blow Your Mind
04. Let The Good Times Roll
05. Saint Restraint
06. Grindstone
07. The Edge
08. Distant Love Affair
09. For You
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/