Born out of a drunken cocktail bar session at a summer festival, respective members of Sinner, Abandoned and Runarock to name but a few, play rock, real rock (according to the press release).
This is certainly true, opening track ‘Everlasting’ has a groove that would sit well with any Black Label Society fan, with similar vocals to match and the loose finger bending harmonic notes on ‘Why I Burn’ trundle along like a freight train. There are a lot of classic influences coming to the forefront on the disc, certainly mix a little Thin Lizzy melody with some ‘Union’ melodies. The blues influence does not stop there, ‘Simplify’ with its mouth organ intro flowing into a groove-tastic feel similar to what I remember Michael Monroe’s solo outing doing with the aforementioned Thin Lizzy hooks towards the end of the track. ‘More Than A Man’ has a little bit of ‘Lost Prophets’ vocal melody in the chorus from a track I remember being played on satellite TV (I don’t remember the track), particularly the vocal lines, but don’t let this put you off, its still hard rock and metal and not pop music! It has to be said, I do really like the vocal style of “Fludid”, crossing the line between Zakk Wylde, John Bush and Chad Kroeger.
I was intrigued by the title of the track ’50 Ways To Love Your Liver’, being guilty of loving my own liver too much, I wanted it to be about drinking, I was not disappointed. The BLS influence comes out very heavily on this one. ‘Ballad of Broken Angels’ is one of the outstanding tunes on this release (no – it’s not a ballad!). The arrangements flow effortlessly and ‘Superman Without a Town’ gets the head nodding in agreement. I cannot keep on stating the same thing, but this is potentially a classic album, for me anyway.
In short, a groove-ridden album full of Southern state USA charm drinking in an Irish bar. An album to check out in 2009 if you are lost after the New Year madness, this album will ease you straight back into reality.
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http://www.afm-records.de
