Mike Mccleary is a guitar player and singer-songwriter from Canada who has a gift for the blues. Weight of the Truth is one of his full-length records which, at 13 songs length, is a full-bodied piece of art. Mike uses his smoothly composed blues rock and folk-tinged instrumentals as the backdrop for lyrics that spread mental health awareness and paint pictures of what it is like to recover from substance abuse problems, such as alcohol addiction.

There’s remarkable honesty and a poetic touch to his words, and Mike’s skill on the guitar is impeccable. The man knows blues guitar inside and out and has the ability to shift moods with ease. Disease starts off the album with a mellow vibe, then Clarity explodes with a momentum of sustained energy. There’s a raw quality to the production and Mike’s playing which is very fitting in the blues-rock context that he explores.

Overall, Weight of the Truth is a solid and varied record with genuinely well-written and thought out songs. Mccleary’s vocal performance is convincing and does not distract from the rock and roll that reigns on. Excellent work, Mike! Keep on rocking in a free world.

Horns Up: Great songwriting and blues guitar playing
Horns Down: The production is a bit barebones and could do with additional punch and clarity