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With Lynyrd Skynyrd due to hang up their boots, Black Stone Cherry are among the frontrunners to inherit the Southern rock crown. Seven albums in, the Kentucky quartet have developed a strong identity, forged around the gruff, emotion-charged drawl of guitarist Chris Robertson. Wrapped up immediately before lockdown, The Human Condition is charged with both despair and positivity, Robertson’s bellowing thinly veiled metaphors for repetition, perseverance, sadness, doubt, anxiety and, above all, optimism. When he sings: ‘Life is way too short to live this way,’ everyone will empathise.

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.