Page 50 - Black Velvet Issue 88

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biggest ever hit, 'New York tracks and sound experi- heavier than the band’s ‘Hallelujah’, always a risky
Groove' (from 1978), was a mentation, all of which are previous ‘Modern Vintage’ one with so many top-
cover version, so it's per- high calibre and display the and has more of a cohe- notch versions out there.
haps a little surprising that band’s range and talent to sive sound. Opening with It’s a reasonable collection,
he hasn't released a covers full effect. The angst-laden first single, ‘Rise’, you’re but the performances
album before. This new ‘Breaking Out’ may be shot immediately handed a seem a little bland. It’s
collection includes guest through with Tarin’s plate of strength, focus and oddly lacking in energy.
appearances by a number screams and the growls of hope. It’s a call to arms, Disc 2 is billed as a rock
of fellow musicians, the guitarist Nick Magee, but urging you to get yourself fantasy and best described
most noteworthy to Kiss alongside the frenetic riffs together and rise up. as AOR. It starts promis-
fans being mainman Paul and punishing drum beat ‘Sometimes you feel like ingly with the hard rock
TOSELAND Stanley, who delivers a fine there’s a strong melody. In giving up’, James Michael intro to ‘Sexy Taxi Driver’.
CRADLE THE RAGE lead vocal performance on Flames guitarist Jesper sings in ‘You Have Come ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and
(52 MUSIC) Free's 'Fire And Water', Stromblad co-wrote and To The Right Place’. The ‘Bikers Feeling’ both have
Toseland’s debut and marking the first time features on ‘Empty’, which album as a whole has a a good driving rock rhythm,
album, ‘Renegade’, im- that the two of them have contrasts walls of sound dark filter to the songs, but while ‘When The Children
pressed rock fans as the appeared on record since and melodic passages, always with the light at the Cry’ is a decent ballad. It’s
former motorcycle cham- 1998. Slash trades guitar and Tarin’s strong, clear end of the tunnel vibe that an enjoyable package and
pion proved his talent was leads with Ace on Thin vocals with Nick’s roars. ‘This Is Gonna Hurt’ had. an entertaining enough lis-
not restricted just to sport- Lizzy's Celtic-flavoured ‘Breathe Out’ goes entirely It’s here to help those that ten. Just don’t expect fire-
ing activities. ‘Cradle The 'Emerald'; Mike McCreedy the other way, a lyrical bal- need a bit of encourage- works.
Rage’ solidifies that. It’s a of Pearl Jam plays guitar lad also featuring ment. ‘I’m Sick’ is a partic- YYY
kick-ass album from start to on possibly Ace's most Stromblad, with acoustic ular favourite with the Clare Huckett
finish. Songs such as ‘Liv- popular Kiss favourite 'Cold guitars and the ghost of chorus ‘I’m sick, gimme
ing In A Moment’ and open- Gin'; guitarist John 5 strings underlying the some more’ jumping re-
ing track ‘Too Close To Call’ shares flashy licks on heartfelt vocals. Hot on its peatedly around your head
will enrich your life. If you 'Spanish Castle Magic' by heels, ‘Black Sheep’ has a long after the song has fin-
need an excuse to let your Jimi Hendrix and a stonk- dark intensity, a venting of ished. There’s a quality
hair down, then put the ing version of Kiss' 'Para- frustration, and Tarin’s solo by Dj in the song too.
album on and you’ll be site'; and Lita Ford vocal variations are excep- Title track ‘Prayers For The
rocking back and forth to provides lead vocals and tionally good. Finishing Damned’ sees a vulnerabil-
‘Puppet On A Chain’. guitar on The Troggs' time- with the dreamy and hope- ity, (‘everything is crum-
There’s power and convic- less 60s hit 'Wild Thing'. ful anthem ‘Whole World’, bling in my head’, James
tion in ‘We’ll Stop At Noth- Ace himself provides copi- this is a phenomenal album sings). ‘What have I got to
ing’, while ‘Fingers Burned’ ous amounts of his famous in its breadth of vision and lose, when I’ve already lost
sees the pace slow a little guitar stylings right from delivery. Magnificent. it all?’ is quite a heartbreak- 3 DOORS DOWN
for a wistful beast, which the outset on a cracking YYYYY ing line, although there’s US AND THE NIGHT
includes some particularly version of Cream's 'White Clare Huckett hope in there somewhere. (REPUBLIC)
strong guitar work coming Room', and especially on More stand out guitars 3 Doors Down’s new
to the fore and ends with an outstanding rendition of from Dj in this song. ‘Better album, ‘Us And The Night’,
strings. ‘Stranger Things’ Led Zeppelin's 'Bring It On Man’ bleeds real honesty opens with the vibrant,
includes mention of world Home'. Album closer, Kiss' while ‘Can’t Stop’ is an- ‘The Broken’, which is a
issues such as how it’s be- 'Rock And Roll Hell', is a other fist in the air rocker ‘call to the broken’. It’s an
coming too hot (climate somewhat peculiar choice but with an electro founda- empowering song. ‘Take
change), while ‘Never Love for Ace to cover as it is from tion. You’ll want to bite into back your world today,’
Another’ is about a lost 1982's 'Creatures Of The its sonic layers and savour Brad Arnold sings. It sets a
love. You can feel the pain Night', the album which every piece. We were positive tone for the rest of
and emotion through the Kiss put out just after Ace slightly worried before we the album. ‘In The Dark’
tone and melody of the originally left the band but heard ‘Prayers For The begins with a funky dance
song. The album ends with which still featured him in Damned’ as Sixx:A.M.’s beat. ‘She likes to do it in
the title track ‘Cradle The the cover photo, even SIXX:A.M. three previous releases the dark,’ Brad sings, giv-
Rage’, a riffalicious number though he didn't actually PRAYERS FOR THE have always been spot on, ing off sultry connotations.
with a serious tone to its play on it. He more than DAMNED always impressing us and Songs such as ‘Believe It’
lyrics. With repeated ‘cra- does the song justice (ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC) with nothing to fault. We and ‘Living In Your Hell’ are
dle the rage’s towards the though, contributing some With Mötley Crüe need not have worried as instant winners with their
end, you feel the intensity tasty soloing to flesh the going their separate ways the band have done it yet infectious melodious tunes
turning up, there’s even a song out towards the end, following the band’s final again. This IS what we live and heartfelt lyrics. 3 Doors
Velvet Revolver-style riff making it over 2 minutes show on New Year’s Eve, for. Down sound the best they
which shows that James longer than the Kiss ver- this left the door wide open YYYYY ever have with Chet
and the band mean busi- sion. 'Origins Vol .1' is a su- for Nikki Sixx to commit SBV Roberts and Justin Bilto-
ness. A top class album, perb effort from the Space fully to Sixx:A.M. Sixx:A.M., nen helping to recharge the
one we’ll be cradling for Ace and ranks up there which also includes Dj THE BOYSCOUT unit, and the album sounds
quite a while. with the very best work he Ashba (Guns N’ Roses) MY ROUTE 66 chock-a-block full of hits.
YYYYY has ever produced, giving and James Michael, have (SONIC REVOLUTION) Unlike some albums there
SBV his loyal fans even more actually been a band for Manuel Mijalkovski, is no wavering in quality
good reasons to be proud nearly ten years, but had, aka The Boyscout, has re- and it continues its solid
ACE FREHLEY of him. for a large part of this time, cruited a plethora of recog- status right to the end. The
ORIGINS VOL. 1 YYYYY mostly been just a studio nisable voices to journey title track, ‘Us And The
(STEAMHAMMER/SPV) Ian Trigg project. However, now, with him down his own per- Night’, is a particular high-
Legendary ex-Kiss Sixx:A.M. is well and truly sonal Route 66. Claus light, it grabs you instantly
lead guitarist Ace Frehley is SANGUINE all systems go and to cele- Lessmann does the hon- and wraps its dreamy cho-
back with a new album less BLACK SHEEP brate, they’ve written not ours on ‘Born To Be Wild’, rus around you, while the
than 2 years after his last (ODYSSEY MUSIC) just one but two albums Jeff Scott Soto contributes piano-led final number,
release, 2014's 'Space In- Sanguine is a band and will tour throughout ‘Get Your Kicks On Route ‘Fell From The Moon’ ends
vader'. 'Origins Vol. 1' is an that gets bored easily, ac- 2016 and 2017. The al- 66’, while Michael Voss is things on a gentle and sin-
all-covers album featuring cording to vocalist Tarin bums are being released up for ‘Ride The Wind’, and cere note. A great album
songs by artists who in- Kerrey. So while there’s a separately, with ‘Vol. 1’’s Linda Lulka belts out a from a great band.
spired him, along with new fair amount of brutal ag- release date being April creditable version of ‘Be- YYYYY
takes on several of his own gression, it’s mixed with 29th. The album itself is a cause The Night’. Mi- SBV
classic Kiss tracks. His some hauntingly beautiful fine slab of hard rock. It’s jalkovski himself tackles

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