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Crashdiet – Generation Wild
Crashdiet – Generation Wild (2011, Frontiers Records)
Original Release: 2010, Universal Music/Gain Records)
1. “442″ … 0:54
2. “Armageddon” … 4:06
3. “So Alive” … 4:13
4. “Generation Wild” … 4:05
5. “Rebel” … 3:23
6. “Save Her” … 3:26
7. “Down With the Dust” … 2:47
8. “Native Nature” … 4:39
9. “Chemical” … 4:17
10. “Bound to Fall” … 4:16
11. “Beautiful Pain” … 4:42
Band:
Simon Cruz – Vocals
Martin Sweet – Guitar
Peter London – Bass
Eric Young – Drums
Producer: Johan Ramström and Patrik Magnusson
Crashdiet (or Crashdïet, if you prefer) are yet another glam/sleaze act from the country seems to have an unlimited supply of them — Sweden. Seriously, I bet you can’t drive down the road in that country without running over of these bands. I’ve heard and liked number of Crashdiet’s previous songs like “Riot In Everyone” and “It’s A Miracle” but for some reason I never got around to picking up an album. I’m sure high import prices are what kept my curiosity at bay. Generation Wild is their third release and also debuts their third vocalist — Simon Cruz. Cruz replaced Olli Herman (who left Crashdiet in 2008 to devote more time to Reckless Love) who replaced Dave Lepard (who commited suicide in 2006).
Well, what we have here is a reissue of the band’s 2010 album that was originally issued by Universal/Gain Records. They have since signed with Frontiers Records and this re-release looks to consummate the new deal. Though there are some international pressings of the original release with extra tracks, from what I can tell the only addition on the Frontiers version is the “442″ intro (Maybe a change in album art too?), so this reissue really is of no interest to anyone who already has the 2010 release, BUT… with Frontiers’ wider distribution, this album should be easier to come by for North American listeners and should most definitely be picked up.
By this time, most people should know what to expect from the glam acts of Sweden: parts Def Leppard, Motley, Guns, KISS, Skid Row, etc. Some acts are more polished and AORish than others, some acts are sleazier than others. I like both sides of the fence and apparently Crashdiet does as well because they are straddling said fence. The gang vocals and harmonies are very reminiscent of Def Leppard but songs like “Armageddon” and “Generation Wild” have just enough bite. In fact, the whole album has enough bite that you don’t feel like you’re listening to cheese that expired in the 1980s. Like most bands that play that modern glam, Crashdiet are exactly that: modern.
From all accounts, Crashdiet is a success in their home country if you define “success” as having your album debut at #3 on the album charts and then getting your music video for “Generation Wild” banned on your country’s version of MTV! It’s a shame there’s not a huge market for these bands in America. In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy the music Crashdiet creates. If you’re into Hardcore Superstar, Wildstreet, Vains of Jenna, Dirty Penny, Crazy Lixx, Reckless Love, Jettblack and so on, this is an album and band you should not miss out on.
Highlights: ”Armageddon”, “So Alive”, “Generation Wild”, “Save Her”, “Native Nature”, “Chemical”, “Beautiful Pain”
http://www.crashdiet.org
http://www.facebook.com/realcrashdiet
Vains of Jenna – Reverse Tripped
Vains of Jenna – Reverse Tripped (2011, Deadline Music)
1. “Fuck You” (Cee Lo Green) … 3:05
2. “Electric Avenue (feat. Frukwan)” (Eddy Grant) … 3:03
3. “Get Back” (The Beatles) … 4:04
4. “Smoke On The Water” (Deep Purple) … 4:51
5. “She’s Not There” (The Zombies) … 2:25
6. “California Dreaming” (The Mamas & The Papas) … 2:34
7. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John) … 3:01
8. “Mississippi Queen” (Mountain) … 2:29
9. “The Letter” (Box Tops) … 2:35
10. “Blowin’ In The Wind” (Bob Dylan) … 5:10
11. “I’d Love To Change The World” (Ten Years After) … 4:08
12. “Hey Hey, My My” (Neil Young) … 4:06
13. “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd) … 4:21
14. “The Sound Of Silence” (Simon and Garfunkel) … 4:37
15. “Forget You” (Cee Lo Green) … 3:04
Band:
Jesse Forte – Vocals
Nicki Kin – Guitar, Vocals (“Wish You Were Here”)
J.P. White – Bass
Jacki Stone – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Frukwan – Rap break (“Electric Avenue”)
Jimmy Wallace – Keyboards (“Get Back”)
Anton Sevholt – Guitar (“Get Back”)
Producer: Adam Hamilton
When I first read VoJ was going to do a covers album, I thought “yeah, okay that’s cool just give us some original music soon”. Luckily, that’s the plan for 2011 with a brand new studio album set to follow Reverse Tripped later in the year. Though I was looking forward to both albums, Reverse Tripped‘s release date somehow slipped by me and Amazon politely reminded me of its existence by recommending it to me.
I didn’t look at the track listing, I just saw the album and said “Yeah! New Vains of Jenna!” and ordered it. It was a nice surprise when I realized the album was the covers album and an even nicer surprise is just how much I love it. Lots of great tunes here that are making me appreciate the originals even more. I must have listened to this album 7 or 8 times since buying it. Just a great summer cruisin’ album much like I thought Def Leppard’s YEAH! covers collection was.
For a sleaze band from Sweden, I’m really surprised by the song choices. I would’ve thought they’d do more ’80s rock/metal with some classic rock thrown in but for the most part they cover ’60s/’70s folk/rockpop acts, which is a cool swerve. “Smoke On The Water” and “Mississippi Queen” are commonly covered but I really like the fact that VoJ made the Deep Purple classic their own… they slowed the song down and that guitar riff is missing. Yes, THAT guitar riff. Who wants to hear that song played straight for the millionth time anyway? Not me. Throwing another curve ball into the mix, the band takes time to cover Cee-Lo Green (in edited and unedited form) and “Electric Avenue”! I guess none of this should be too surprising since on their Facebook page they list their influences as “everything from Elton John to Slayer”.
It’s worth pointing out that this is vocalist Jesse Forte’s debut with the band. Lizzy DeVine left in 2010 and he had a great voice for sleaze but I can’t imagine him pulling off these songs as well as Jesse has. Maybe this album and Forte’s vocals will push the band into less sleazy areas and I’m completely fine with that.
All told, this is a really fun album to listen to. There’s much love and care given to these songs, most don’t stray too far from the originals but at the same time I felt the band made them their own. Well worth picking up especially if you’re already a Vains of Jenna fan.
Highlights: “Fuck You”, “She’s Not There”, “California Dreaming”, “The Letter”, “Blowin’ In the Wind”, “I’d Love to Change The World”, “The Sound Of Silence”
http://www.vainsofjenna.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/VAINS-OF-JENNA/77210915994
http://www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Split Your Lip
Hardcore Superstar – Split Your Lip [UK Import] (2010, Nuclear Blast Records)
1. “Sadistic Girls” – 4:06
2. “Guestlist” – 4:02
3. “Last Call for Alcohol” – 3:24
4. “Split Your Lip” – 3:19
5. “Moonshine” – 3:57
6. “Here Comes That Sick Bitch” – 3:21
7. “What Did I Do” – 3:51
8. “Bully” – 3:28
9. “Won’t Go to Heaven” – 3:04
10. “Honeymoon” – 3:28
11. “Run to Your Mama” – 4:58
Band:
Jocke Berg- Vocals
Vic Zino – Guitar
Martin Sandvik – Bass, Backing Vocals
ADDE Andreason – Drums
Producer: Tobias Lindell
As is the case every year, I end up picking up a few albums from the previous year that I either didn’t know about or just never got around to picking up. I had honest intentions for purchasing Split Your Lip in 2010 but I think import prices were kinda high so I was price-watching for used copies on Amazon. The only album I was familiar with by Hardcore Superstar previous to this album was 2007′s Dreamin’ In A Casket, which I liked but didn’t knock my socks off. I almost picked up 2009′s Beg For It when that was released but feedback seemed to be so mixed I decided against it. Well, given that album cover to Split Your Lip was right up my alley, I HAD to have this CD reviews be damned.
So is the music just as awesome as the cover is cunning? YES. I’ve said it many times in the past but had I heard this album last year, I think it would have definitely made my Top 10 list. If you’re not familiar with Hardcore Superstar they are heavy metal, they are sleaze metal, they are glam metal and they drag it all into modern times. They aren’t a retro act, it’s modern sleaze metal but it still retains a heavy quality that could have the band opening comfortably for either Motley Crue or Avenged Sevenfold. I’ve even seen some sites list them as thrash metal, which gave me pause and after I thought about it, I guess some parts of their music can be thrashy (such as the opening moments of “Honeymoon”) but the thrash influence is just a drop in the sleaze bucket and I would have never thought to have categorized them as that myself.
They’ve been at it for over 10 years now and it’s a shame they haven’t found success that parallels what they have achieved in their home country of Sweden (#1 singles and Grammy awards over there. Even a cult following seems like it would be appropriate given the band’s looks and sound. Maybe something for the Hot Topic crowd? The anthemic “Sadistic Girls” and the ballad “Run To Your Mama” (which is just epic to me) seem tailor-made for the tattooed, pierced and pale. Meanwhile, “Here Comes That Sick Bitch” seems like a great single for U.S. radio. If I was a deejay I’d play it! But what do I know?
Split Your Lip is an album full of sleaze the way it should be played — with big choruses and big hooks. I’m definitely amongst the converted now and plan on going back and checking out the older material.
Highlights: “Sadistic Girls”, “Last Call for Alcohol”, “Split Your Lip”, “Moonshine”, “Here Comes That Sick Bitch”, “Honeymoon”, “Run to Your Mama”
http://www.hardcoresuperstar.com
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialHardcoreSuperstar
http://www.myspace.com/hardcoresuperstar
King Lizard – Viva La Decadence
King Lizard – Viva La Decadence (2010, Psycho Devito Records)
1. “Viva La Decadence” … 3:36
2. ”Rain On You” … 4:10
3. ”Rock N’ Roll Me” … 3:09
4. “Hell Yeah” … 3:43
5. “Video Lover” … 3:13
6. “Kan’t Kill Rock N’ Roll” … 3:25
7. ”Never Be Mine” … 6:06
8. “Not For Me” … 5:11
9. “Riot” … 5:20
10. “Taste The Hate” … 2:59
11. “Outrageous” … 3:11
12. “Late Nite Dynamite” … 3:54
Band:
Flash Roxx Sawyer – Lead Vocals, Piano
Niro Knox – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Alice Rain – Bass, Backing Vocals
Sky London – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer: King Lizard, Andy Brook and Chris Tsangarides
The modern rival of glam and sleaze metal is still going strong and while Sweden usually is the top exporter of such bands these days, it’s good to see some British bands finally making a splash. London’s King Lizard has been around for a number of years but this is their full full-length album and the first I had heard of the band. When I was first contacted about this band I was immediately sold upon hearing “Viva La Decadence” and seeing the album art! And yes, there is an uncensored version of the album cover and it is spectacular. Easily the best album cover of 2010!
As for the music itself, the band delivers the kind of party rock I enjoy. If you’re not on board by the time the title track is done playing, then you’re not going to get the rest of the album either. “Rain On You” is a great middle-finger song about not letting anyone stop you. “Rock N’ Roll Me” and “Hell Yeah” are both dirty rockers. “Not For Me” is the album’s lone power ballad, it rocks as well just enough so that it doesn’t come off as sappy.
“Riot” I found to be a really good and interesting song on the album due to its unique piano intro. Reminds me of something that you might find on a SIXX A.M. or Avenged Sevenfold album. After the intro, a really cool bass line starts up and the song starts to rock and it’s one of the heavier songs on the album. “Outrageous” and “Late Nite Dynamite” close out the album in a good sleazy fashion.
With contemporary production values and an obvious love for all ’80s rock and metal, King Lizard’s Viva La Decadence is definitely an album worth seeking out.
Highlights: “Rain On You”, “Rock N’ Roll Me”, “Hell Yeah”, “Not For Me”, “Riot”, “Outrageous”, “Late Nite Dynamite”
http://www.kinglizard.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/kinglizardmusic
http://www.myspace.com/kinglizardmusic
Bad City – Welcome to the Wasteland
Bad City – Welcome to the Wasteland (2010, Atlantic Records)
1. “Showdown in Central Park” … 4:40
2. “Take Me For A Ride” … 3:43
3. “Do You Believe In Rock N Roll” … 3:44
4. “Wildlife” … 4:17
5. “Fire In The Pouring Rain” … 3:56
6. “Call Paul Stanley” … 4:38
7. “Heatwave” … 3:34
8. “Look Out!” … 4:55
9. “Touch” … 3:36
10. “Straight To The Grave” … 4:01
Band:
Josh Caddy – Vocals
Max Perenchio – Guitar
Tom Schleiter – Guitar
Jake Serek – Bass
Kevin Kane – Drums
Producer: Johnny K
This band was completely under my radar until just a few weeks ago. You know the major labels are in trouble when they’re actually signing bands that sound like old school arena rock. I can’t believe Atlantic Records released this album in 2010! Let me state that this album is not a complete throwback to the ’80s though. The sleaze rock, pop-metal, power pop and stadium rock influence is felt throughout this album (check out those gang vocals and huge choruses!) but there is also a modern and alternative rock/pop sound to the group as well.
Put it this way, both Paul Stanley AND Billy Corrigan are championing this band and album as the best things to come along in rock music for quite some time, so that should tell you their sound doesn’t swing one way or another completely but what is complete about this album is the addictive hooks and infectious melodies. This album should appeal to a variety of rock fans. Songs like “Showdown in Central Park”, “Wildlife” (sleazy pop metal at its finest) and “Do You Believe in Rock and Roll” are for the ’80s rock/metal fan, “Call Paul Stanley” is a great rock ‘n’ roll anthem that would go down well in front a huge arena/stadium crowd, “Fire In The Pouring Rain”, “Touch” and “Heatwave” will appeal to fans of modern rock/pop.
Bad City is definitely a new band I intend to keep an eye. It’s a shame this album almost passed me by! I only discovered the band because someone posted a link to their “Wildlife” song on a message board. Typically for this kind of music these days, the album isn’t exactly burning up the charts but hopefully they’ll be around for years to come. Chock full o’ hooks and anthems, Welcome to the Wasteland is one of 2010′s best releases and sadly it will be ignored for the most part. Someone like KISS or Bon Jovi or Motley Crue need to have these guys open for them so they can get exposed to the right market and build a solid following.
Highlights: “Showdown in Central Park”, “Wildlife”, “Fire In The Pouring Rain”, “Call Paul Stanley”, “Heatwave”
http://www.myspace.com/badcitymusic
http://www.facebook.com/badcity
BUCKCHERRY – All Night Long
Buckcherry – All Night Long [Best Buy Exclusive Limited Edition] (2010, Eleven Seven Music)
Disc 1: All Night Long
1. “All Night Long” … 3:54
2. “It’s a Party” … 3:44
3. “These Things” … 3:52
4. “Oh My Lord” … 3:38
5. “Recovery” … 3:01
6. “Never Say Never” … 3:43
7. “I Want You” … 3:43
8. “Liberty” … 4:16
9. “Our World” … 3:50
10. “Bliss” … 3:56
11. “Dead” … 5:24
Disc 2: Reckless Sons Acoustic EP
1. ‘These Things” … 3:58
2. “Fire Off Your Guns” … 3:46
3. “Black Butterfly” … 3:47
4. “King of Kings” … 4:49
5. “My Friend” … 3:58
6. “Grace” … 4:20
Band:
Josh Todd – Lead Vocals
Keith Nelson – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Stevie D. – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jimmy Ashhurst – Bass, Backing Vocals
Xavier Muriel – Drums, Percussion
Producer: Marti Frederikson & Keith Nelson
All Night Long is one of my most anticipated albums for 2010. The release of the singles “All Night Long” and “Our World” gave me great hope for this album. I was a big supporter of this band when their debut album hit back in ’99 but then they kinda drifted away after the release of Time Bomb but made a great rock ‘n’ roll comeback with 15 in 2006. 2008′s Black Butterfly was the band’s finest moment in my opinion (though most disagree) and their Live & Loud 2009 release is one of my favorite live albums of all time. I guess maybe in my eyes this band can do no wrong at this point. I’ve been lucky enough to see them in concert three times and they’re one of few real rock bands left. They have a classic sound and look but aren’t retro. Simply put, Buckcherry is good sleazy rock ‘n’ roll.
I pre-ordered the Best Buy edition because it was only $9.99 and also it comes with an “exclusive” second disc — the Reckless Sons Acoustic EP. Well, I guess Best Buy is correct in saying this version of Reckless Sons is exclusive because while they are offering six acoustic tracks, iTunes is offering seven (an acoustic version of “Sorry” is the extra track). It’s a shame digital music gets preferred treatment these days but that’s just the way it goes when CD sales continue to drop. I don’t download albums so I guess I’ll have to settle for this inferior Best Buy version of the EP.
The Acoustic EP is good for what it is. The original plan for the album was for all of it to be acoustic but they scrapped that idea presumably after all these acoustic songs were written. The songs are what you would expect: ballads and mid-tempo numbers. Not really something I would want a full album of but for bonus content it’s pretty good. Some of these songs would have fit in well onto the actual All Night Long album. The song “Black Butterfly” was actually written for the album of the same name but for whatever reason was not included.
As for the actual All Night Long album, for any that were disappointed by the detour the band took a bit with Black Butterfly, I think they’ll find much to like here. The album is straight-forward meat & potatoes rock ‘n’ roll. It’s Buckcherry doing what they do best — sleazy rock songs about sex and partying. There is no “Crazy Bitch” or “Too Drunk…” here and maybe that’s a good thing. I’m glad they’re not trying to re-write previous hits. I have found every single song to be enjoyable, no filler here. Of course, there’s the few obligatory ballads but I think that’s an area where Buckcherry excels. “These Things” and “I Want You” fit in just fine with the rest of the great ballads this band has written.
In a cool nod to their debut, the album cover and inside art features photos of a live model made up to look like the painting of the girl on the cover of their debut. Apparently, her name is “Cherry Girl”. And the real girl is pretty hot!
Okay, I do have one complaint — the first disc seems to have trouble playing my computer. Reckless Sons will play just fine but All Night Long seems to have a 99.9% fail rate on this computer. I have tried it on a laptop, two DVD players and a car and it plays there fine with no problems but I guess it hates my computer. I’ve only been able to get it to play once and that was after I had restarted the computer. I ended up ejecting the disc to listen to Reckless Sons and then went to put All Night Long back in and it was back to not playing! This is very frustrating because I listen to 98% of my music on my computer.
Other than that, this is an amazing release and it’s a very strong contender to be my favorite album of the year.
Highlights: “All Night Long”, “These Things”, “Oh My Lord”, “Never Say Never”, “I Want You”, “Our World”, “Dead”, “Fire Off Your Guns”, “My Friend”
SWEET SYBIL – Sweet Sybil
Sweet Sybil (2010, Eonian Records)
1. “Remember When” … 4:00
2. “#69″ … 3:19
3. “Downtown Suicide” … 4:44
4. “Walkin’ Talkin’” … 5:54
5. “Someone In Your Eyes” … 4:29
6. “Jump Back” … 4:55
7. “Burning House” … 4:25
8. “Alone With You” … 4:08
9. “You & I” … 3:42
Band:
Sam Carava – Vocals
Mike Parker – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brian Unger – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jeff Malas – Bass, Backing Vocals
Randy Matthiesen – Drums, Backing Vocals
Producer: Johnny K.
Sweet Sybil are another late ’80s/early ’90s hair band from the Chicago area. The problem with that is that Chicago wasn’t really a hot bed for the glam/hair/sleaze metal scene (if you wanted to succeed, you needed to move to L.A.) and by the late ’80s, the genre was growing tired. According to the album’s liner notes, they were a popular local act that was able to snag “mini-tours” opening for Alice In Chains, Extreme and King’s X.
Though the album’s best moment is the sleaze rockin’ “Downtown Suicide”, the band throws a few curve balls in an attempt to break out from the pack. I guess maybe because the band wasn’t in L.A., they felt no pressure to completely conform to the rules of the genre. While “#69″ is a pretty generic song title and makes you think the song is going to be a generic hair rocker, it is not. There’s bunch of horns being used and it’s basically a ska song. I’m not a ska fan but points to Sweet Sybil for trying something different and being a bit ahead of the curve on the ska trend.
The press release hypes this band as bit more “street” than much of then-current rock scene, trying to draw comparisons to Guns N’ Roses and L.A. Guns. There’s some truth to that, they aren’t glammy at all, really and I can hear the sleazy bar band similarities to L.A. Guns.
The first eight tracks were recorded from 1991-1992 but the last track, “You & I” was recorded in 2009. It’s a pretty good acoustic number that fits in pretty well with the rest of these songs and just goes to prove what I’ve always said — it’s great Eonian is (re)releasing old music from these bands but I would also like to see them help these bands put NEW music out as well.
This is a typically solid Eonian release that hardcore fans of the hair genre should be able to appreciate.
Highlights: “Remember When”, “Downtown Suicide”, “Walkin’ Talkin’”, “Burning House”
BUCKCHERRY – Live & Loud 2009
Buckcherry – Live & Loud 2009 (2009, Eleven Seven Music)
1. “Tired of You” … 3:44
2. “Next 2 You” … 3:56
3. “Broken Glass” … 4:39
4. “Check Your Head” … 4:56
5. “Lit Up” … 4:42
6. “Talk To Me” … 3:48
7. “Rescue Me” … 3:48
8. “Rose” … 4:02
9. “For the Movies” … 5:13
10. “Ridin’” … 4:41
11. “Lawless and Lulu” … 4:27
12. “Everything” … 4:31
13. “Sorry” … 4:04
14. “Crazy Bitch” … 7:37
15. “Cream” … 4:05
Band:
Josh Todd – Vocals
Keith Nelson – Guitar
Stevie D. – Guitar
Jimmy Ashhurst – Bass
Xavier Muriel – Drums
Producer: Keith Nelson
Buckcherry is easily one of my favorite acts to come out out the ’90s (though they barely made that decade, their debut was released in 1999) and are one of the best hard rock outfits going today, in my opinion. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live three times and hope to see them again in the future. They always put on a fun energetic show, they’re a great live rock ‘n’ roll band. Maybe they aren’t perfectionists and technical wizards but rock ‘n’ roll isn’t about perfection. They aren’t as sloppy as a band like Poison but they have just enough to lend extra charm to their shows.
Live & Loud 2009 is a great representation of what the band is all about. I’m sure the usual touch-ups were done in the studio (in fact I think I hear Josh Todd backing himself on the vocals at one point) but I can say that if anything was changed, the changes were very minor because I know what they sound like live. I actually saw the band on this tour, unfortunately they weren’t recording for this album at the show I went to near Detroit. The whole album was recorded over the course of a few shows in Canada in May 2009.
The album basically doubles as a “best of” and features 5 tracks from 2008′s Black Butterfly which is a good thing because I think that’s their best album yet. The only track off the top of my head I think they missed out on including is “Too Drunk…”. Which is really weird because it was Black Butterfly‘s lead single and was a minor hit on rock stations. What’s even more strange is on the reissue of Black Butterfly it was replaced by the band’s cover of Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” (a song they recorded for NASCAR). I guess that explains not including it here but why would you remove a single from the album in the first place? The song caught a lot of flack for being a too similar to “Crazy Bitch” but I still love it.
Speaking of “Crazy Bitch”, it’s the highlight of the album. In a live setting, the band adds a bit of funk to it and Josh Todd’s stage rap introducing the song is good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll debauchery and fun. The version here is 7 min 37 sec but when I’ve seen them they’ve stretched it out to about the 10 minute mark.
Upon release, the album was going for about $9.99 but I picked it up for $7.99. I’m not a huge fan of live albums but for bands I really love I’m more prone to buy them. I’m glad I picked this up and anyone who isn’t sold on Buckcherry’s studio albums may be able to appreciate this release a bit more.
Highlights: “Tired Of You”, “Next 2 You”, “Broken Glass”, “Check Your Head”, “Lit Up”, “Talk To Me”, “Rescue Me”, “Everything”, “Crazy Bitch”
SISTER SIN – True Sound of the Underground
Sister Sin – True Sound of the Underground (2010, Victory Records)
1. “Sound of the Underground” … 3:33
2. “Outrage” … 3:26
3. “Better Than Them” … 3:32
4. “24/7″ … 3:59
5. “Heading For Hell” … 3:41
6. “I Stand Alone” … 4:09
7. “Built To Last” … 3:25
8. “The Devil I Know” … 3:26
9. “Times Aren’t A-Changing” … 2:55
10. “Nailbiter” … 3:32
11. “Beat Em Down” … 3:30
Band:
Liv – Vocals
Jimmy – Guitar
Benton – Bass
Dave – Drums
Producer: Henrik Edenhed
Despite this being their third release, Sister Sin is a band that was totally under the radar to me until about a few weeks ago. There was thread on a message board that I frequent titled ‘Sister Sin’ but for days I didn’t click on it. Just going by the name, I figured it was some melodic power metal band or maybe even something heavier. A few days later, I happened to see the CD in FYE for $9.99 and the sticker on the cellophane said “true street metal for fans of Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Scorpions & Accept!”
I still wasn’t sure if it was worth the money and checked out the thread as soon as I got home and the Myspace link that was inside and absolutely loved the song “Outrage”. I listened to most of this album on their Myspace page and some more positive feedback on this band convinced me to pick it up.
I’m really glad I did. Sister Sin is like the slutty metal sister of Halestorm in a way. Liv’s vocals are powerful, not quite on the level of Halestorm’s Lzzy but very close. Both of these bands feature a strong female rock vocalist and have hooky modern hard rock sounds but while Halestorm has more of a post-grunge influence (and a bit of “Kelly Clarkson rock” on a few tracks), Sister Sin revels in pure old school sleaze & heavy metal and why not? They’re Swedish! It’s practically a legal requirement for any hard rock act from Sweden to pay homage to the ’80s glam and sleaze acts.
Don’t get me wrong though, Sister Sin isn’t a retro band but their idols are obvious. While the Motley influence is there, they don’t necessarily sound like Priest, Scorpions and Accept but I definitely agree this band is for fans of type of music. However, there is an Accept connection after all– Udo Dirkschneider wrote the lyrics to “24/7″.
As much as I love supporting the veteran acts, it’s great and refreshing to hear new bands coming up with their own twists on hard rock & heavy metal. I wasn’t even sure if I was gonna enjoy Sister Sin just because I usually don’t care for female vocalists but True Sound of the Underground is yet another great release in 2010 and has been a featured album in my car and on my computer since I bought it. It’s hard, heavy, fast and it isn’t alternative. What more could you ask for?
Highlights: “Sound of the Underground”, “Outrage”, “Better Than Them”, “24/7″, “I Stand Alone”, “Nailbiter”
FALLING RED – Shake the Faith
Falling Red – Shake the Faith (2010, Rocksector Records)
1. “How You Feel (On Me)” … 3:34
2. “Thrive” … 4:18
3. “Out Of Control” … 3:11
4. “You Were Out To Get Me” … 4:01
5. “Sue You For Your Soul” … 3:23
6. “Immoral Heights Of A Lowlife” … 3:45
7. “No Good, So Wrong, So Right” … 4:20
8. “Shake The Faith” … 4:01
Band:
Rozey – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Shane Kirk – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Millsy – Bass, Backing Vocals
Dave Sanders – Drums, Backing Vocals
I’ve seen a lot of writers comparing Falling Red to Guns N’ Roses and I have to agree. Still, it’s a bit of a cliche these days to try draw lines to Appetite for Destruction, as in “this is the best debut since Appetite!”, “this generation’s Appetite!” and “not since Appetite has a debut sounded so dangerous!” Please. It unfairly raises expectations and casts a large shadow for these up ‘n’ coming bands. Let’s face it, no debut is going to equal or top that 1987 classic no matter what.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that Falling Red’s Shake the Faith stands on its own just fine, thank you. What the band does is join the likes of Charm City Devils, Backyard Babies, Vains of Jenna and The Last Vegas in keeping sleazy, punky old school rawk ‘n’ roll alive with this solid collection of decadent party rock.
With the great revival of sleaze rock that we’ve seen in the past decade, there’s plenty of bands that fall into category of “mediocre”. Some new generation acts seem just as manufactured as the scene itself became during the late ’80s and early ’90s but that’s not the case with Falling Red.
To be sure, while an enjoyable listen, this album breaks no new ground in the genre but what it does is lay down the foundation of what could become quite a legacy for this band that has a bright future. Their hearts are obviously in this. They aren’t just being “retro” for the sake of being retro and don’t become a parody of the scene. This group has the charisma, energy, riffs and sneering attitude that it takes to ascend to the top of the sleaze rock trash heap.
Falling Red has quite a future and Shake the Faith confirms it.
Highlights: “How You Feel (On Me)”, “You Were Out To Get Me”, “No Good, So Wrong, So Right”, “Shake the Faith”
http://www.myspace.com/fallingredband
http://fallingred.co.uk/
