Album review: Cory Marks – Sorry For Nothing Vol.2

By PETER COATES

THE release of Sorry For Nothing Vol 2 comes as Cory Marks’debut breakout 2019 country-rock hit “Outlaws & Outsiders” (featuring Ivan Moody, Mick Mars, and Travis Tritt) has officially been certified Gold by the RIAA in the US, marking his first-ever certification in the States. The song made history as the first-ever Top 10 US  rock radio-charting single from a Canadian country act and has logged over 212 million global streams to date.

A North Bay, Ontario native, Cory is redefining the boundaries of country and rock with his unapologetically bold sound. Influenced by his upbringing among country legends like Merle Haggard and the high-energy rock of bands like Rush and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as more recent standouts Bryan Adams, Brad Paisley and Eric Church, he has forged a style that is distinctly his own.

The album kicks off with a raucous rocker in “Hangman” with some great double-tracked harmony vocals over the catchy riff, that has a de-tuned phrase after the chorus that provides a bit of menace.  The stripped-back mid-section gives a brief respite before a couple of rousing choruses bring this to a peak!  “Are You With Me” has a solid hard rock riff over a punchy bass and drum beat, and lets Cory go to town on the vocal line. And the rocking feel continues with “Change The Game”, before we venture into real melodic arena rock vibes with the brilliantly titled “The Heart Breaks When It Wants To”. If Brantley Gilbert or Jason Aldean released this, it would be enormous.

We are firmly in Zac Brown territory with “Wild Ride”, with the southern drawl, and the finger-picking guitars, powered along by the rhythm section. The singer and songwriter describes “Whiskey River”, the follow-up to “Hangman”, as “a rowdy, honky tonk feel-good country anthem made for late nights and good times. With twangy guitars, stomping drums, and a barroom sing-along chorus, it’s the soundtrack to letting loose after a long week.

“The song,” Marks continues, “follows a character who is just a good timing simple man … who’s had one to many late nights according to his partner and when times get rough or she’s had enough. He runs to his favourite small-town watering hole, where the whiskey flows like a river and worries get washed away. It’s about freedom, fun, and the kind of night you’ll never forget—if you can remember it.”

“Empty Bottles” is a rough-edged acoustic number that turns into an emotive country-rock ballad, with Cory stretching his vocal range up high, before we head back to the hard rock world with “Pick Up The Phone”.  This is where I think Cory really stamps his mark on the industry – he has found a perfect way to blend his country rock roots with some of the harder metal edges, and comes up with a really effective sound.

The main event closes with a slightly cheesy but eminently catchy country rocker, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics in the traditional country vein, in “A Different Kind Of Year”.  Give this to Luke Bryan and watch it explode – quality country pop-rock, delivered with the familiar Cory Marks feel.

Sorry For Nothing Vol. 2 is an unapologetic double-barrelled blast of 10 new and original songs, equally divided between arena-rock and roots country. Produced by Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Shania Twain), Kile Odell (NOTHING MORE, Nita Strauss) and Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Brantley Gilbert), this is yet another collection of hard-hitting rock/country crossover tracks.  There is an acoustic version of the title track of the first volume of these released last year which highlights the smooth velvet voice that Cory can deploy and has a real power ballad feel to it when it turns up halfway through.

With over 386 million global streams to date, Cory has been captivating fans across the country and rock spectrum, and those of us Down Under would love to see him head over here for CMC Rocks before too long.

In touring news, Marks will head out with Sevendust in November/December around the US on their “Southside Double-Wide Tour” that kicks off November 14 in Columbia, Missouri. Earlier this year, he made his own headlining jaunt throughout Canada, and he ventured overseas for his debut Europe and UK tour. He also toured the U.S. in support of Dorothy as part of their “REDEMPTION” tour, following performances with Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, and Theory Of A Deadman.

Get Sorry For Nothing Vol.2 on CD