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ROCKNATION ISSUE 13
PAGE 13
CD Smith (now former hatchet of the Limp Bi- to “Midnight Flight” is crunchy and will defi-
zkit), that us first delight with a small initial
nitely blow your ears away. Other highlights
solo, then with a series of more aggressive
include “She Needs My Love” and “Solar
riff road via that the song goes ahead, while
Eye,” then “The Writer” wraps things up
REVIEWS Henrik Ostergaard gives the better than with a rocking finish. Overall, Best of is an
himself to the voice and to the rhythmic
excellent sampling of the greatest non-hits
guitar. “Let There Be Rock”, puts an end
from a forgotten gem among ’80s metal
to this now and five minutes of authentic
acts. It smokes from start to finish, dripping
hard rock, with a excellent vocal extension with classic hooks and juicy guitar riffs and
of Henrik, perfectly supported from Ron absolutely smacking of the ‘80s glam at-
Sutton behind the rolling and Wilber to the titude and flash. Pop this in your CD player
low end on Bass guitar. and take a mind-blowing trip back in time
and ponder what could have been.
SEVENTH RIZE
“Full Moon” Perris Records
“Full Moon” is 80s style hard rock that
brings to mind the earlier work of bands like
FOREIGNER and BAD COMPANY. It’s
surprisingly well done and, although
capable of bringing a nostalgic smile to
your face, it also sounds somehow fresh
enough to be recognized as newer music
rather than classic rock. Bruce Turgon from
XXX FOREIGNER fame brought chemistry in
“Heaven, Hell or Hollywood?” song writing that made his band famous.
Perris Records HOLY WATER Produced by famed drummer Bobby Rock HARDREAMS
(Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Nelson), “Full
XXX is an intriguing band to say the least. Moon” has a clean, classic metal sound
Featuring Snowy Shaw (drums and vocals), “The Collected Sessions” and a surprisingly dynamic punch. It may “Calling Everywhere” Perris Records
the imaginatively named ‘X’ (guitar and not be strong enough to start a new global This CD was originally released on Vinny
vocals) and Rob Nasty (bass and vocals), Perris Records interest in melodic 80s metal, but it’s a fun Records but the label went bust soon after
the band have quite a history behind them. Back in the late ’80s, members of bands listen with a number of true standout the release. Throw in some big, catchy
Snowy has performed and recorded with like Doro, Quiet Riot, Widowmaker, Saraya, moments -- my favorites being “Quicken” choruses, some great backing vocals and
numerous well known bands over the years etc. joined forces to record an AOR and titled track “Full Moon”. punchy guitar for good measure, whiz it up
including King Diamond, Dream Evil, classic, under the project name Holy Water. well and you get an idea of what
Therion, Mercyful Fate, Notre Dame and Obviously, Holy Water never became that HARDREAMS is like. HARDREAMS is a
more. His bands have numerous styles and classic, but they have achieved cult status. Spanish band with a melodic sound. The
levels of heaviness and that history is as Having Foreigner’s Al Greenword produce groups music could be compared to the
clear as vodka on Heaven, Hell or and mix your release certainly adds to their legendary WHITESNAKE with some AOR
Hollywood. The band play a hard rock- Classic Rock/AOR legend. Out now on moments thrown into the mix as well. Remi-
ing music that varies from glam metal to Perris Records, you can pick up The niscent of Whitesnake’s more radio-friendly
horror pop and sleaze rock. It’s all influ- Collected Sessions and hear exactly what stuff, and especially KISS’s “Crazy Nights”
enced at base level by the American hair the hubbub was all about. The band CD, this album is for those more into the
metal scene and British punk. There’s an consists of David Knight (vocals), Thomas pop-oriented side of hard rock, rather than
overwhelming dollop of Swedish cool in Jude (guitar), Freddy Villano (bass) and the fast and the furious. Most of the songs
the mix too. ‘It’s Suicide’ may not have the Tony Galtieri (drums). When the band first on “Calling Everywhere” fall into either
most positive of ideologies in its title, but got together, they recorded three songs the Survivor-type hard rock radio hits, the
the song itself has an immensely anthemic known as “The Green Sessions,” and the token hard rock ballads or, at least in the
nature. It’s a riotously punkish track with a song that easily could have catapulted case of the driving “Too Late,” the David
short-sharp-shock of a chorus and a them into Top 10 status is the opening Coverdale era of Deep Purple. If you’re
simplistic, straight to the point message. looking for heavy, angry music, you won’t
Given the chance this could be one of song, “I’m Not Worried Anymore.” It will find it on “Calling Everywhere” If you’re in
those ‘songs of the summer’. Oi, XXX, remind you of Foreigner, maybe Alias, ODIN “The Best Of” the mood for some solid AOR rock’n’roll in
make a video for this and get it on MTV! even perchance Bad Company (with Brian Perris Records the vein of bands like Survivor/Whitesnake,
The cover of Cheap Trick’s ‘I Want You Howe, not Paul Rodgers). Knight sings this is a good CD to plug into your car
To Want Me’ is phenomenally good. It of much like Lou Gramm used to, with a Every now and then, you get hit by stereo and drive to.
course helps that the original song is so soaring higher range that owns a bit of nostalgia. You hear a song you haven’t
good, but XXX have given the song their an edge when he wants it to. The chorus heard in God knows when, and the
own spin and, to be honest, it’s hard to is sheer melody, just and Jude’s guitar memories come flooding back, and you just
know whether this is any worse than the solo is a bit more talented than you would can’t help but wonder, “Whatever
original - this version really is that good. have expected. Each of these musicians happened to those guys?” Such is the case
‘Miss Misery’ is another contagious sing are talented; even the backing vocals are with Odin, once one of the most promis-
along number, whilst the final (title) track is impressive.“Some Things Have to ing bands on the L.A. circuit. You may
like a cross between ‘We Will Rock You’, Happen” thumps along with Villano remember them from the documentary
Wednesday 13 and Motley Crue. Some of thrumming a deep, steady bass line and The Decline of Western Civilization II: The
the riffing is stomping and gnarly, whilst the Jude tearing into a noisy riff. It’s frankly Metal Years, the foursome who were once
chorus has a huge feel to it. It’s a great way amazing that Knight hasn’t fronted some predicted to be bigger than Van Halen. Yet,
to round out the album. larger bands; this guy can wail. The thing for some unfathomable reason, fame just
about Holy Water is that you would have wasn’t in the cards for Odin, and they never
sworn you’ve heard these songs before, made it past the club stage.Now Perris Re-
but chances are you haven’t. This should cords has released Odin’s Best of package,
have been another hit for Holy Water. a set of 18 tracks, featuring the previously
Jude’s quirky riff on “Once is Not Enough” unreleased “Let the Show Begin,” that are

will remind many of Paul Gilbert’s work in sure to make the FAITHFULL
Mr. Big, and of course, so does the overall listener pause to say, “Hey, I remember
those guys! Whatever happened to them?”
song. Knight certainly sings with a bluesy Things start out with “12 O’ Clock High,” “Light This City” Perris Records
edge to his vocals during the verses. It’s which is quickly followed up by theanthemic Is there anyone out there who owns
also an anthem for summer, with lines like, “Don’t Take No For An Answer,” which are records from Portugese acts? Well, if you
“Once is not enough; does this have to be showcases for the primal scream vocals don’t, this “Light This City” from Faithfull
a one night stand?” “If I Knew Then” keeps of lead singer Randy O (who threatened could as well become the first one in your
the pedal to the floor, but still under the to kill himself if the band never made it, collection. Star of this band is a guy called
speed limit. It may be the heaviest song on but nonetheless is alive and well). The Sérgio Sabino, who used to front another
The Collected Sessions. Holy Water is/was third track, “Fight For Your Life,” starts off Portugese band, called Evidence (not to
an intriguing band. Songs like “I’m Not with a spoken call to power, then segues be confused with Evidence One). What’s
Worried Anymore” “If I Knew Then” and into a slow, smooth groove with crashing, so great about him, is that he’s the owner
of an excellent voice and sings without
DIRTY LOOKS “Some Things Have to Happen” reveal a smashing drums. All songs on the album any accent at all. Completing the line-up
glimmer of what they could have been had feature the scorching, smoking guitar work
are Martins, Ledesma and Ramos and
“Slave to the Machine” they kept things going. Of course, that’s of Jeff Duncan, best known perhaps for his together they have recorded an album that
Perris Records about the time Grunge took everyone’s stint with Armored Saint, as evidenced by sounds very much like one of Bon Jovi’s. .
A disk loaded with energy this of the Dirty birthday away for a decade, so it’s no “Judgment Day.” The biggest surprise is Presenting a perfect mix between rockers
Looks it is a re-issue album of 1996. It is surprise Holy Water was a one-off project. the inclusion of “Serenade To The Court,” and ballads and professionally produced
begun from the title track and already with That being said, if you are a fan of a short-but-sweet instrumental easy on the by Tarantula drummer Luis Barros, this is
this piece is begun to understand thing we Foreigner and Howe-era Bad Company, ears after all the hard stuff on the rest of maybe the best hard rock album that has
will find ourselves in front.16 tracks of pure The Collected Sessions is more diamond the album. “Little Gypsy” may remind some been released in Portugal so far. Give
rock old style with little demands and still than rough. www.hardrockhaven.net listeners of such contemporaries of Odin these guys a chance, will you?
except for frills. “A Better Way” for Mike as Motley Crue and Ratt. The guitar intro