Ghalia Volt: Burn The House Down Review

Ghalia Volt’s sixth album, Burn The House Down, was released on May 15 through Ruf Records. The album delivers a raw, no-holds-barred, diverse menu of tracks with hill country tones seasoned by Volt’s upbeat energy and retro influences. She teamed up with fellow axe slinger JD Simo, who also produced the album at his home studio, aptly named House of Grease. Of working with Simo, Volt said, “I love to compare JD to a photographer. He captures a moment, an energy, and all those action shots translate into a record. We only did a few takes of each song. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s simple. It’s all about spontaneity and feel.”

The album was recorded over a pair of days in a live setting, with Volt and Simo trading guitar licks while Brian Allen handled bass duties and drummer Chris Powell anchored the rhythm section. They recorded together in a single room, allowing amp bleed, imperfections, and chemistry to become part of the finished product. The raw spontaneity she refers to is tangible as you listen.

This fearless approach is notable given the success of her previous project, Shout Sister Shout!, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart and received an 8.5 “Great” rating from Blues Rock Review. Being fearless is nothing new for an artist who scraped enough funds together as a street performer in her native Belgium to come to America without so much as a driver’s license to pursue her passion more than a decade ago. That pursuit has taken her from the streets of Brussels to the clubs of New Orleans and the hill country of Mississippi, from performing as a one-woman band to becoming one of the most promising up-and-coming artists in blues rock.

As a blues artist, life experiences can be as influential as the music that accompanies them. From flamenco songs and traditional Spanish music in childhood to punk, garage rock, and psychobilly, the guitar became a focal point for the multi-instrumentalist as she explored the roots of rock & roll. This eventually led her to the blues and artists like Skip James, John Lee Hooker, and J.B. Lenoir. All of this comes together on an album that is more of a personal statement than a genre-driven project. As Ghalia says, “Often, bands make music for the fans or to fit into a certain genre. I believe that if you make art for yourself—if it feels right, if you feel good doing it—then it will translate. People will appreciate it more because it’s real. It’s you.”

She seems to reflect upon her journey with the album’s first single, “Ride,” with its catchy bass riff and retro Euro-punk sound. The second single, “Let Yo’ Hair Down,” reinforces Volt’s views on removing inhibitions, with an oozing lead guitar and a stomping rhythm that bring an undeniable sense of funky fun. The opening track, “No Ice Please,” is a slide-intensive, fun whiskey-drinking song, but it also makes a statement for the album: “Don’t water it down.” The second track, “Mine,” doesn’t water down its social and political commentary on materialism and greed.

Standout blues-centric tracks include “Where Do We Go,” a greasy, somber lament about living on through loss, while “River Song” is a haunting, psychedelic tale about a troubled mind. The album’s closer, “Black and White,” is a classic hill country acoustic piece that packs a punch despite its 1:40 runtime. A blues rock album wouldn’t be complete without bad relationships on “Lucifer’s Grip,” bad habits on “Wreckin’ & Rollin’,” and bad endings on the title track, “Burn The House Down.” All are delivered with varying degrees of intensity that make you feel like the band is performing on a stage far too small and only a dozen feet from your ears.

Upon the album’s release, Ghalia posted, “this album is fierce & gritty. Back to the roots. It’s raw. It’s organic.” I fully agree. The experience flows with alternating grooves punctuated by dynamic exchanges between Volt’s and Simo’s guitars, underscored by a relentless rhythm section. From a frenzied first impression to a funky second listen, a precocious third, and an even more provocative fourth, this is an album that gets better with every spin.

The Review: 8.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– No Ice Please
– Where Do We Go
– River Song
– Black And White
– Burn The House Down

The Big Hit

– Burn The House Down