Wraith - Revelation https://www.facebook.com/UKWraith/ Ice Rain Records / Cargo Records Review As record reviewers, it's our honour to receive a far amount of stuff, usually far ahead of release dates so that we can do our thing and write something about them, hopefully leading to people wanting to buy said records based on our words. Upon receiving this one, it sat in my downloads for a while due to me thinking it was a thrash oriented release. It was only upon finally hearing this record did I discover just how woefully wrong I was. This is hard rock of the highest order! From the opening riffs of first track 'Lifeline', you are put on notice that gem is here to kick you right in the fun bags! It's riffs and vocals galore, a literal hard rock feast of sounds. Almost immediately, one if reminds of bands like RATT, Y & T, Accept, and UFO. 'Dream Steeler' is the first of the tracks that will remind one of classic era RATT. 'Under The Hammer' is a monster cut that has classic Michael Schenker style riffs throughout it. It also features Pete Way on bass. 'Leaving Me Again' slows things down just a bit for a power ballad (the key word here being POWER), as it still a huge sounding tune with a ripping guitar solo. 'No Respect' is a heavier cut built around a raging bass line and some heavy duty drumming. Singer Coggin really shines here with some big time vocals, as well. The tune 'Invasion' could easily have been a classic cut on any RATT record from the past as it has all the great elements that make them such a classic band. One could easily hear Stephen Pearcy singing this one. Singer Ryan Coggin was one considered for the lead singer position in RATT but decided to join this band instead. 'Revelation' is a short theatrical spoken word piece that serves as the intro for 'Human Hater', the heaviest tune here, reminding one of something you might hear on an Accept or Judas Priest record. It's a big, brutish tune with double time rhythm and vocals that could near melt iron. The record wraps up with the tune 'Hunted', another tune that screams classic sounding RATT mixed with dashes of Y & T. After repeated listens to this record, there's not a band tune on this record. This record is an amalgamation of everything that is great about hard rock. This thing is built to be played at maximum volume. It's 40 minutes of wide open, foot on the throttle rock n roll that is steeped in ripping guitars, thunderous rhythms, and vocals to die for. This is easily one of the best records this year and maybe even the past couple years. If you're a fan of hard rock, there is absolutely no excuse not to have this in your collection. It's really THAT good. I'm still kicking myself for taking so long to get around to listening to this. Rating 5 stars (out of 5!) CJ “Music God” Plain of Auditory Riot Radio
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LA Guns, The Missing Piece LA Guns are back and with the combined forces of Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis they have tapped right back into the spirit of the first album, high octane headlong rock n roll with sufficient rough and tuff attitude to give it an attractive and dangerous edge. First track we should mention is single ‘Speed’ with the same driving urgency of ’One More Reason’ it’s frenetic and just what you wanna put on before a night out to the sleaziest rock club to get you in the mood and that’s an ultimate measure of whether something has legs, in my collection at least. ‘Guitar, guitar, guitar’ – there’s no doubt that Tracii Guns pays his way in this gang with an almost classical phrasing, but far more plugged into the crotch that anything Yngwie might do it’s designed to hit the right spot mainline. That backbone riff is only exceeded on the album by the seismic riff of Sticky Fingers and with the vocal of that track mirroring the introductory riff it’s a sequence that burns into the memory like a flamethrower. Phil brings to the party attitude and the cocksure authenticity of an old Skool rockstar that’s seen and done it all. Self doubt it not in his dictionary and those tired of the legacy of the tortured 90s will lap it up in spades. With roots from a different era this is everything a longtime fan of LA Guns has been praying for at the altar of the profane. Phil brings street alley cat-cool and style that you just can’t buy. But it’s not all nuclear explosions and the sniff of soho back alleys. The ballad ‘Christine’, a love song, is the Sunday morning version of LA Guns, but it’s no less infectious and contains a nice low key effortless guitar solo which reflects the professional that knows what fits a song well and that a little bit of contrast only sets off all material concerned to advantage. Fans of ‘Ballad of Jayne’ will get a new favourite. ‘Baby Got Fever’ and ‘Don’t ring a Gun to a Knife Fight’ have more rock n roll style guitar. ‘The Floods the Fault of the Rain’ has more of a New Orluns bluesy swing. Co written by former band mate Kenny Kweens “Devil Made Me Do It’ has a tinge of punk and title track ‘Missing Peace’ and closer ‘Gave It All Away’ have more of a slow burn. By getting back together Tracii and Phil have managed to relight the flame of the old days. Genuine excitement and vibrancy throbs throughout this album. Just another living proof that when he says ‘Rock is Dead’ Gene Simmons just couldn’t be further from the truth. Dawn Osborne 9/10 |
Dawn
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