2026 – E-H Records
Release Date : March 26, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; April 4, 2026
Detroit-based recording
artist Eliza Neals has delivered another brilliant record with Thunder
in the House. Her songs, infectious
as hell, rock with a distinct bluesy bravado.
They definitely cut right to the bone.
Produced and arranged by Neals, this nine-track, all-original release
marks her thirteenth studio album to date.
With Eliza on lead vocals and Hammond B3/Rhodes/piano,
she is joined by guitarist Michael Puwal (Kenny Wayne Shepherd),
bassist Doug Woem, drummers Steve Lacross and Justin Headley (Butch
Trucks Band), with guests Mark ‘Muggie Doo’ Leach (Buddy Miles)
on Hammond B3, ‘Detroit’ Mike Hepner on Hammond B3/Grand Piano,
and guitarist Frankie Maneiro.
The album leads off with “Speedy Beedy”. Released as a single last year, this blues-soaked homage to Howlin’ Wolf’s classic “Little Red Rooster”, tells the story of a quite charming rooster which came to an unfortunate demise. I dig the venture into swamp-rock Puwal takes on guitar. It sounds great along with Neals’ fierce vocals. I love “Blues Bombshell”. It’s brilliant and sexy. With Detroit Mike on B3 and Grand Piano, this one is slathered with grease as Puwal douses the song with a delectable serving of slide-guitar. Keeping one’s thoughts and feelings bottled up takes a toll on one’s mental health. With a heady and melodic darkness, “Locked Up” expresses this in a very personal way. I find this song beautifully hypnotic. Neals’ words of wisdom offer encouraging advice for pushing through unexpected hurdles in “One Monkey (Don’t Stop No Show)”. Atop a driving beat, this fabulous rocker is delivered with a Muscle Shoals vibe with Neals on piano, Leach on B3, and Maneiro on guitar. Trauma can linger long after an event has passed. With this in mind, Neals brings the record to a close with the smoldering deep blues of “Thunder in the House”. The slide guitar is absolutely wonderful in this ominously haunting title-track.
Holding a steadfast cohesive flow from beginning to end, Thunder in the House converges blues, rock, and soul into a truly captivating record.
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For more information about Eliza
Neals, visit her website at https://www.elizaneals.com/
Available on Bandcamp : https://elizaneals.bandcamp.com/album/thunder-in-the-house
For other PhillyCheeze reviews
featuring Eliza Neals -> https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=eliza+neals