Treat are Swedish rock legends, after forming in the 80's, they took a hiatus and then returned in 2006 and since then they've been kicking out stadium anthems since then, cementing their place as Swedish rock veterans that should be spoken about in the same breath as Europe.
The Wild Card is their fifth album since reforming and with the line up that's pretty much been the same since then. So a seasoned rock band playing the melodic hard rock, wrapped up in polished production there's no chance of there being anything out of the ordinary on The Wild Card despite it's name.
However this isn't detrimental to the record as it's packed with the melodic rock you will be expecting, in fact it's got all the facets the band have had their entire career as this is a record with a structure to it, beginning in the 80's and that higher energy style they shift into the ballad heavy 90's before moving to their contemporary style.
Treat have said that they are trying to go full circle here, showcasing their entire career in one record and it pays off brilliantly as 1985 is a joyous throwback, while Mad Honey is heavier strut and One Minute closes the record with the band Treat are today.
A career spanning record from these veterans, showing that Treat still have a few goodies up their sleeve. 8/10
Danko Jones - Leo Rising (Perception) [Rich Piva]
Danko Jones has been around for what seems forever. The Canadian trio have been rocking their heavy blues punk rock for almost 30 years now, and have dropped 12 albums and a bunch of other stuff, including their new one, Leo Rising, which continues their string of high energy, fun but serious, heavy ass rock and roll records.
The opener, What You Need, is a straight up punk ripper. Punk, but also a band that understands rock and roll; leather, denim, and whatnot, combined together nicely. Diamond In The Rough shows that Danko and crew have some sunset strip records in their collection for sure. You can like SNFU and Van Halen at the same time.
Everyday Is Saturday Night is kind of like Buckcherry, but Casket Rats did it better. Cathay as hell, though. More 90s punk vibes come across on I Love It Louder, but Danko can’t shake that 80s metal thing, and that is just fine with me. My favourites are the cowbell-filled Pretty Stuff and the rocking I’m Going Blind. Overall, the 11 tracks on Leo Rising are all fun and all worth your time if you are looking for a good time.
The new Danko Jones is some melodic, ear worm inducing bluesy punk rock that loves 80s hair metal too. Leo Rising is catchy as hell and fun, but nothing ground breaking, but who needs that from Danko jones at this point in their career. Enjoy. 7/10
Lynch Mob - Dancing With The Devil (Frontiers Music) [Rich Piva]
George lynch, somehow, is underrated as a guitarist. How? No idea. The dude shreds and was an innovator of his time. His always questionably named band he formed outside of Dokken, Lynch Mob, was also pretty underrated.
The new Danko Jones is some melodic, ear worm inducing bluesy punk rock that loves 80s hair metal too. Leo Rising is catchy as hell and fun, but nothing ground breaking, but who needs that from Danko jones at this point in their career. Enjoy. 7/10
Lynch Mob - Dancing With The Devil (Frontiers Music) [Rich Piva]
George lynch, somehow, is underrated as a guitarist. How? No idea. The dude shreds and was an innovator of his time. His always questionably named band he formed outside of Dokken, Lynch Mob, was also pretty underrated.
Their debut, Wicked Sensation, was great, and their self-titled follow up was so overlooked, coming out at the wrong time for it to make any impact (see every unfortunate band labelled “hair” at some point in 1992). While I thought Lynch had retired the name, alas, we get one final Lynch Mob record in the form of Dancing With The Devil, album number eight from the band, and just like all the ones after the self-titled record, it is fine.
Lynch rips always. That continues on the 11 songs on Dancing With The Devil. The solo on Pictures Of The Dead is perfect stuff. His playing, of course, is the highlight here, with really not much else standing out. It is a solid effort from a band from the late 80s/early 90s and sounds exactly how you think it will sound.
It is a bit more gritty then their sparking sounding and puke inducing production of their Frontier records, with Saints And Sinners being a good example of this. Album vocalist Gabriel Colón's singing is really solid, but the songs are what they are, held up by one of the greatest players of any generation. My favourite track is The Stranger, which is the perfect combination of Dokken and Lynch Mob, a fitting way to end this chapter of Lynch’s career.
Like I said, for a band at this point in their career, Dancing With The Devil is fine. Lynch rules. The songs are good, just nothing special, but I am not sure what anyone would expect other than what I just wrote at this point in time. 7/10
Cassidy Paris - Bittersweet (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]
"Influenced by icons like Debbie Harry, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Lita Ford, but always with my own spin on things" yep it's a Frontiers release.
Blending retro with modern Aussie rocker Cassidy Paris' second album Bittersweet is more personal than her debut, full of raw emotion as it reflects on a journey that has seen her not only achieve her dreams of being a rockstar but also take up the mantle as an anti-bullying advocate with Metalheads Against Bullying.
Performing in schools to showcase that just because you dress differently or like different music than the rest of your age group you should still be treated with respect, (this goes for plenty of other things too) and while there are a million Taylor Swift fans there's not always that many who would indulge in some Lzzy Hale.
At age 11 she met Paul Laine (ex Danger Danger, The Defiants), and stared to mentor her in the ways of the rock world, while also being a co-writer and producer of her music. Again with Bittersweet, Paul Laine, Steve Brown and others contribute to the songwriting but this second album feels more like Paris finding her voice.
Be it with the tender meets anthemic balladry of Gettin' Better and Can't Let Go, the swaggering rockers Nothing Left To Lose/Wannabe or the pop-tinged moments such as Sucker For Your Love or Turn Around And Kiss Me. There's a defiance and a confidence that shines through on Bittersweet, making Cassidy Paris a exciting prospect for the Planet Rock circles. 7/10
Like I said, for a band at this point in their career, Dancing With The Devil is fine. Lynch rules. The songs are good, just nothing special, but I am not sure what anyone would expect other than what I just wrote at this point in time. 7/10
Cassidy Paris - Bittersweet (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]
"Influenced by icons like Debbie Harry, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Lita Ford, but always with my own spin on things" yep it's a Frontiers release.
Blending retro with modern Aussie rocker Cassidy Paris' second album Bittersweet is more personal than her debut, full of raw emotion as it reflects on a journey that has seen her not only achieve her dreams of being a rockstar but also take up the mantle as an anti-bullying advocate with Metalheads Against Bullying.
Performing in schools to showcase that just because you dress differently or like different music than the rest of your age group you should still be treated with respect, (this goes for plenty of other things too) and while there are a million Taylor Swift fans there's not always that many who would indulge in some Lzzy Hale.
At age 11 she met Paul Laine (ex Danger Danger, The Defiants), and stared to mentor her in the ways of the rock world, while also being a co-writer and producer of her music. Again with Bittersweet, Paul Laine, Steve Brown and others contribute to the songwriting but this second album feels more like Paris finding her voice.
Be it with the tender meets anthemic balladry of Gettin' Better and Can't Let Go, the swaggering rockers Nothing Left To Lose/Wannabe or the pop-tinged moments such as Sucker For Your Love or Turn Around And Kiss Me. There's a defiance and a confidence that shines through on Bittersweet, making Cassidy Paris a exciting prospect for the Planet Rock circles. 7/10
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