Calling Jeff Martin’s overwrought 2006 solo album Exile and the Kingdom a disappointment is an understatement. As the singer and primary songwriter in The Tea Party’s, lyrics were never his strongest suit so lighter, exotic-tinged acoustic folk was a middling musical path to travel down. Reinventing himself as The Armada with instrumentalist Wayne Sheehy, this self-titled album returns to Zeppelin worship and heavier blues-based material more akin to his former band.

I think “Black Snake Blues” was the only notable song from Exile and the Kingdom so I was happy to a see this album to feature a more produced rerecording with a Robert Johnson influence featuring a wavering vocal effect that recalls “No Quarter” and “Hats Off to (Roy) Harper”. Otherwise, it’s all-new blues rock material with Middle Eastern instruments which is no surprise at all. After listening to the first minute of the opener “Going Down Blues”, I questioned why they didn’t cover “When the Levee Breaks” when this intro’s bombastic drums and panning harmonica are lifted straight from that classic. Each song hits about the four minute mark with songwriting that aims at a commercial direction in line with The Tea Party’s Triptych although there are no obvious hit singles.

So it’s steady traditional listening if you’re a into classic blues rock and The Tea Party’s later albums. It just doesn’t knock down the doors of contemporary music trends.