Damn this is one cool album...!
Kivel just keeps on getting better and better with their releases and this is no exception. In fact, this is the most cohesive, bombastic, loudest band yet on the label and a definite to please fans of early Hurricane and XYZ. TNA (I'm sure it stands for Totally Nasty Attitude and not Tits And Ass...yeah right - just look at the awesome packaging) The vibe here is mid-80's LA based heavy metal. But in the melodic mold - no raspy vocals and totally clean guitars. There's elements of Dokken here too just as in the two above mentioned bands.The vocalist sounds like a combination of DD and Kelly Hansen. Making you drool yet? Guitars are incredible. AWESOME solos on some of these tracks. Also interesting is that the bass is featured prominently and this guy is GOOD. Not often seen in a rock band like this. Everything is mixed well - the album just rocks out on the headphones and on the speakers. Track by Track: Rung On The Ladder - Great first track. Rocks out. Chorus kicks in after the main verse and it just totally blows you away. Very Hurricane-Over The Edge. Take You Home - VERY typical 80's "I wanna do you" song. Maybe a little too familiar but the vibe and attitude on it is perfect! Great arrangements. Let Me Down Easy - Killer mid-tempo ballad with deeper meaning than most rock ballads. Moody with a layered chorus and a awesome bridge. Again, similar to some XYZ. Where's The Love - Cool intro straight out of 1010 Wins radio and a dark song with a surprisingly positive chorus. All about society's ills and has some killer guitar work in it. Life Goes On - Reminds me of some Poison in the beginning and then kicks into a cool Dokken like chorus. Cool uplifting song - a favorite of mine on the album. Awesome clean acoustic intro. Falling Down - The de-facto "single" of the album. Its a Fallen Angel type of song but again, darker and moodier with great lyrics and sing-along chorus that makes all other "teen runaway becomes a hooker" pale in comparison. It also has a positive message too "pack your bags and turn your life around" Memorable. One of my favorites. Draw The Line - The "18 and Life" of the album about a good kid gone bad. Awesome pace and great lyrics. The chorus is subtle but the verse and bridge are just so cool and description, the chorus doesn't have to blow you away. I love how Mike says "tough enough". Very Bon Jovi-esque. Bittersweet - Best song. Its not a rocker and its not a ballad. Its somewhere in between. One part Bon Jovi and the other part heavy Hurricane. Its a midtempo, crunching song about a broken relationship. Cool techno beginning. Can't Wait Forever - Straight forward rocker with an absolute soaring chorus and lyrics you totally want to sing along to. another gem and another song with a message about life in general. Bad Girl - Very simple sleaze-rock tune. Not the best but the band make it something more than it could have been. This song seems like an afterthought. Good party track though. They are definitely having fun. All in all, an incredible record. I like my AOR heavy and this is such a throwback to those days. Its totally cool. Check it out!!! JOHNNY BLACKOUT REVIEWS |