Chantel McGregor - The Healing (2025)

This is Chantel McGregor’s third studio album, following on from her 2011 debut, ‘Like No Other’ and 2015’s, ‘Lose Control’. Ten years have passed since that second release but, ‘The Healing’ shows, in all it’s magnificent glory that the decade of delay and frustration has been used well. Although never lacking in self belief the time has undoubtedly allowed her to grow, as a writer and arranger and the result is a simply stunning album.

For those that think they know what to expect here, I cannot emphasis enough that this is NOT a blues album, it’s a full-blooded rock album that hits hard at every opportunity and veers unashamedly into Prog Rock territory on several tracks.

McGregor may have garnered a reputation as a blues guitarist in those early days but with ‘The Healing’ it’s safe to say those days are but distant memories and that should really be no surprise to her fans. One of the hardest working musicians on the live circuit, McGregor has used that time on the road to put together a stable, like-minded band (Colin Sutton on bass and Thom Gardner on drums) and to cement that move to the heavier sound she craves.

McGregor has always been fiercely proud of her independence as an artist, taking on as much as she can on her own, so bringing in old friend Oli Brown and his The Dead Collective drummer, Wayne Proctor, to handle production and recording duties represents quite a change in approach.

Brown is also responsible for the synths and programming while in an even more significant departure from the norm the two men have joined McGregor to share the writing credits on all eight songs on the album. Chantel has clearly revelled in the challenge thrown down, creatively, by having the two on board and, the quality of songwriting is truly outstanding.

Lyrically, McGregor is baring her soul here, addressing the issues of loss, grief, self doubt, and heartbreak and, in that respect, this may well be a cathartic and indeed healing release. And the music?

Well, there’s an overwhelming feeling here that we are now seeing and hearing the ‘real’ Chantel McGregor. Whether it be the prog influenced riffing of opening track, ‘I Will Breathe’, the powerful classic rock of ‘Broken Heartless Liar’ or the shimmering, moody guitar of the opening bars of ‘Tears’ this is a million miles away from what has gone before. Soaring guitar solos, that incredible voice… yeah, have I mentioned that this is a rock album?

There is room on this perfectly balanced record for the easy, commercial sound of ‘Stand On My Own’, before a guitar motif, reminiscent of Marillion’s Steve Rothery, introduces ‘Echoes’. The lush soundscapes, interwoven with McGregor’s soulful vocal are quite mesmerising as they lead on to a climactic, emotion laden solo.

‘Undercover’, another cleverly constructed, if more straightforward rocker leads into a real gem, ‘Truth Will Out’. This is a real departure, sonically, and the standout track on the album for me. A pulsating, electronic rhythm underlies layers of keyboards and guitars and a hair on the back of the neck vocal. Shades of Prog Metal dominate, it’s brave, it’s in your face and it’s brilliant!

The album draws to a close with the haunting title track, ‘The Healing’, an intensely personal song about finding hope amidst the fear of losing the ones you love. It’s a fabulous, emotional coda to a remarkable record.

In ‘The Healing’ we have a bone fide candidate for album of the year. It sounds absolutely incredible, with a production and mix that are nigh on perfect. It may have been ten years in the making but, McGregor and her partners have delivered something truly special. ****½

Review by Neil Pudney