Night Ranger: Don't Let Up (Frontiers Records)
Gillis is joined by newbie Keri Kelli who has replaced Joel Hoekstra whilst the old school partnership of Kelly Keagy and Jack Blades remains intact on the driving rhythm section. Eric Levy's keyboards complete the line-up. As far as the music goes, well, it is polished, smooth and exceptional melodic rock, the kind that filled the airwaves in the 1980s and died a death in the 1990s. Tracks such as Somehow Someway, Running Out Of Time, Truth and the title track ooze quality. The combined vocals of Blades, Gillis and Keagy harmonise beautifully over the cheesiest tunes. Night Ranger has been a force in this genre for many years. This album cements their position in the top 10 without a doubt. Get the tightest jeans, back comb your receding hair and rock out (very lightly). 8/10
Mage: Green (Self Released)
Album number 3 from Leicestershire Stoners Mage, and it's a sweaty slab of fuzzy riffs, crashing drums and dirty vocals that demand you grab a beer or two whilst thumping the table. Mark, Woody, Tom and Andy don't mess about. they follow the Orange Goblin, Witch Tripper style from start to finish with some heads down doom tinged metal. Chaos ensues on Heroic Elegy, dirty guitar and charging power chords crash over you. There is essence of other swampy heroes in here, Clutch, Kyuss and Sleep all come to mind as influences. Good stuff from start to finish and if you like a big helping of some massive riffage, then Green should be on your menu. 7/10
Beyond The Labyrinth: The Art Of Resilience (Spinal Records)
Belgian rock outfits are few and far between. A studio
project since 1996, but fully operational since 2004, The Art Of Resilience is the fourth full release by the band
originally from North Flanders. Apparently, "the boundaries of musical
definitions are too narrow to describe our music". Well, any band with a
fucking mission statement, however, well intentioned, will get a definition
from me regardless. Melodic hard rock at best, pompous overproduced bloat at
worst. There. Have that as a definition.
The album contains a mix of vocalists who deliver some of the most histrionic performances heard for many a year. Tony Carlino's exhortations on Shape Shifter, a horrible prog rattler might just win whilst the angst drenched gushings of Geoffrery Tarallo on the awful Liberation Day run it close. The band stick to more solid ground on tracks like Carry On and Can't Get Over You, with the latter another one of those misogynistic gut churning rock 'love' songs which should have been consigned to Paul Rogers in 1975. Salve Mater is another grating dollop of total tripe, with Flilip Lemmens vocals flat and uninspiring. The more it goes on, the worse it gets. This track is possibly the worst song I've heard all year. Give this release the swerve. It's dire. 3/10
The album contains a mix of vocalists who deliver some of the most histrionic performances heard for many a year. Tony Carlino's exhortations on Shape Shifter, a horrible prog rattler might just win whilst the angst drenched gushings of Geoffrery Tarallo on the awful Liberation Day run it close. The band stick to more solid ground on tracks like Carry On and Can't Get Over You, with the latter another one of those misogynistic gut churning rock 'love' songs which should have been consigned to Paul Rogers in 1975. Salve Mater is another grating dollop of total tripe, with Flilip Lemmens vocals flat and uninspiring. The more it goes on, the worse it gets. This track is possibly the worst song I've heard all year. Give this release the swerve. It's dire. 3/10
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