Artist: Pushking
Title: The World As We Love It
Type: Album
Label: edel/ear music

When I received this in the post I was rather taken back by the amount of classic who’s who in terms of hard rock legends featured on this release. But then in another sense, I am always sceptical about the PR machine having guest musicians on such albums, especially as every track features a different artist, thereby hiding the original bands achievements or maybe hiding the non-achievements in some cases. Pushking are a Russian band, whom have a staggering 15 albums behind them, this release is an attempt to have the world hear Pushking for themselves rather than a finite number of people in their home country. These are all Pushkings songs, but given the guest musician treatment. Outstanding vocal performances come from Alice Cooper, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Country Communion), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow), Eric Martin (Mr Big), Graham Bonnett (ex-Rainbow), Paul Stanley (Kiss), Udo Dirkschneider (UDO, ex-Accept), and Jorn Lande. That is just the vocalists, musicians include Joe Bonamassa (Black Country Communion), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Billy F Gibbons, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, etc…the list is endless.

So the music itself, the marketing tools have so far done their job. Well, it straight up hard rock with AOR influences pure and simple, nothing more, nothing less, stand out tracks include ‘Cut the Wire’, ‘Why Don’t You?’, and ‘Head Shooter’ has wonderful soulful guitar work and melody but at times there is pure pain from the vocals. Glenn Hughes provides the most class and the most appearances on this album, strengthening an average musical approach and giving it some soul. From what is on offer, Pushking have good song writing talent, the arrangements are both wholesome and structured, but I am not feeling any connection to the band themselves, this album has sat in the background of my mind when I have played this album over the numerous occasions before putting fingers to keyboard, almost waiting room music.

This is a nice collection of cheesy AOR/hard Rock songs, the purpose of such a release to raise the profile of Pushking. I would have much preferred the band to do the talking themselves, the guest musicians are fine and dandy, but I don’t think this represents the band as an individual entity but it certainly works on the PR front. The album oozes class and skilful classic rock swagger and soul, but as to who’s it is, that remains an unanswered question.

http://www.pushking.eu
http://www.ear-music.net