Artist: Kickhunter
Title: All In
Type: Album
Label: Rockphone Records

Helloween fans may be slightly disappointed that Kickhunter, which features the gurning and grinning Markus Grosskopf on bass, is not the power metal creature one might imagine. Rather they are a blues inspired rock ‘n’ roll band, which would not look out of place beside your ZZ-Top albums (if you happen to be one of the poor souls who owns one or two of them). However, even though it doesn’t tread the paths you might expect, a lot of fun can be had with the likes of ‘Revolution’ and ‘Feels Like Home’, both of which call for a barstool and a shot of whisky to boot.

What is called ‘Southern Rock’ these days is perhaps an appropriate term for this album, smattered with sturdy basslines from Grosskopf, poppy female vocals aplenty from Ela and Mel, and bluesy guitar riffs from Stefan Aurel and Rollie Feldmann. A cheesy vocal duet, ‘Deep In My Heart’, manages to turn proceedings almost sickly sweet, but a couple of covers, including Blondie’s ‘Call Me’, bring things back to the country rock sensibilities which this album pulls off so convincingly, which whilst not metal as such, is as warm as a swig of JD.

We are not breaking any boundaries here, and it is easy to wonder what exactly the band wanted to achieve, but it appears that first and foremost we have ‘fun’ on the menu (something that Grosskopf is not unfamiliar with). And with the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Down and ZZ-Top all in equal measures, and even Pink Floyd influence rearing its head in the form of Ansas Strehlow’s Hammond organ, you will be at home with this release, and made to feel very welcome, even if you were a stranger to these here parts previously.

http://www.kickhunter.com
http://www.myspace.com/kickhunter