AlphaMale

Sounds okay.

That, is awful.

+1

Harem Scarem - United

Funny.... I thought Gravity was one of the weaker tracks on United but I'll be damned if that chorus hasn't been stuck in my head for days.

Damn you HS!

Volume 1: No Rules Volume 2: Field Trip

Californian melodic hard rockers KIK TRACEE are releasing “Big Western Sky”, their first album in more than 25 years in the shape of a B-sides, demos and rarities, available on 2 CD / 4 LP.

The Vol.1 is oddly titled "No Rules" as the band's '91 album, but it's full of unreleased material.

These are pre-production recording for their second full length that never was, early demos, a couple of live recordings, etc.

Kik Tracee vocalist singer Stephen Shareaux said of the release: “After all these years. Why a Kik Tracee release now? The timing just felt right.

We've been sitting on these songs for what, 25 years now? Kinda pulled them out recently, and listened to the stuff, and thought. You know. Let's package this stuff and put it out there for the diehard fans to relive the glory days, if you will, or just get their Kik Tracee on, man”.

The sound quality is very good, most of them pre-production stuff which at the time were done professionally and would be today's envy for many bands.

This Vol. 1 features the songs that never made into Kik Tracee debut, plus some from the unreleased 2nd full length album. Hard Rockin¡, catchy stuff with an early '90s feel.

Highly Recommended

01. Cats In The Cradle (Demo)
02. Without Love (Demo)
03. Romeo Blues (Demo)
04. Big Western Sky (Demo)
05. Equal Opportunity (Demo)
06. Generation Express (Demo)
07. Strawberry Jam (Demo)
08. System Above (Demo)
09. Tangerine Man (Demo)
10. Bring Home Yesterday (Demo)
11. Don't Need Rules (Demo)
12. Shake The House (Demo)
13. You’re So Strange (Live Acoustic)
14. Lost (Live)
15. Gentle Persuasion (B-Side)

The vol.2 is sub-titled 'Field Trip'. These are pre-production recording for their second full length that never was, early demos, a couple of live recordings, etc.

The sound quality is very good, most of them pre-production stuff which at the time were done professionally and would be today's envy for many bands.

This Vol. 2 also includes two cool acoustic performances captured live in a radio performance.

Highly Recommended

01. Field Trip (Demo)
02. Outta My Bed (Demo)
03. Shine (Demo)
04. Walking With A Dead Girl (Demo)
05. Under The Influence (Demo)
06. Drop In The Ocean (Demo)
07. Blood Brother (Demo)
08. Drop In The Ocean (Live on Pirate Radio)
09. Walking With A Dead Girl (Live on Pirate Radio)
10. In Trance (Demo)

Stephen Shareaux - lead vocals
Michael Marquis - guitars, backing vocals
Gregory Hex - guitars, backing vocals
Rob Grad - bass, backing vocals
Johnny Douglas - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Pre Order:

empmerch.com/product/kik-tracee-big-western-sky-cd-pre-order/
empmerch.com/product/kik-tracee-big-western-sky-part-1-no-rules-limited-edition-double-vinyl-lp/
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DAMN FREAKS - Damn Freaks (2017)

from various internet sources:

DAMN FREAKS hails from Florence, Italy, a project formed this 2017 including current Tygers Of Pang Tang vocalist Iacopo Meille. This is one of the selling points listed for their self-titled debut, but also that it sounds like classic '80s hard rock and Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) is mixing the whole thing.

Press release says “We all wanted to capture the vibe that we loved way back in the ’80s when we were listening all day to White Lion, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Dokken and David Lee Roth".

Now when I hear name-checking like that I must admit it is normally accompanied shortly after by a real sense of disappointment, but there is always that moment just before you hit play when you imagine what it would be like if they got it right…

"Damn Freaks" is certainly an album that captures some of that late Eighties hard rock groove. It's not ground-breaking in terms of songwriting but it's fun stuff well played and arranged.

There’s some solid work here: the competent 'Burning Up' puts one in mind of Ratt, while 'The Way I Feel' has the sort of drawn-out, drowsy air that reminds me of Lost Behind The Wall by Dokken, one of the best songs from Back For The Attack.

You’ll enjoy the “rock outs” that include the robust ‘Break The Chains’ and ‘Dream Highway’ – both examples of fun, good driving music; then there’s a competent midtempo ballad ‘Sea Of Love’ and the fiery and catchy closer ‘Take A Ride’ which could only have been born out of the '80s.

'Poison Apple' stands head and shoulders above the other tracks by virtue of its slightly progressive chords that contain hints of commercial Rush or the Elefante bros. band Mastedon.

"Damn Freaks" is a fine, enjoyable, simple but fun collection of songs made to be played loud and the soundtrack of many a Saturday night.

01. Break the Chains
02. Broken Wings
03. Take a Ride
04. Secret Path
05. Sea of Love
06. The Way I Feel
07. Dream Highway
08. Poison Apple
09. Burning Up

Iacopo Meille - Vocals
Marco Torri - Guitars
Claudio Rogai - Bass
Matteo Panichi - Drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Damn-Freaks/dp/B072Q6GZ1D

https://youtu.be/v8ltnZ_sCTM?list=PL6CkpfkwjH0l0L0GICyY-CtWdHrAQZC7G

Harem Scarem - United

Great song Glen.

Agreed that the album is spotty though.

Awesome video...awesome album that remains my favorite so far this year.

 

Also, absolutely pumped these guys will be playing their first live show in the US at MRF5 next May...I'm there

Take Glen with you! He'd love to hear Danny Rexon live again!!

Not really digging those vocals. Not terrible but also not too good.

Average at best.

Very cool video.

Sounds sleazy good!

 

 

 

I'd be more interested in hearing something original. not a cover of a mid tier 80s song..

Agree 100%

It's a bloody good cover though

 

No doubting that. Just hate cover songs being the lead single of all new material.

I should've "ignore the thread".

 

I'd be more interested in hearing something original. not a cover of a mid tier 80s song..

 

Agree 100%

They for some reason do absolutely nothing for me.

Is II better than I?

I guess so but is that saying much?

 

 

 

 

 

Not heard Degreed or DaVinci yet, but my top 10 as of today would be;

 

9. Muna - About U

I'm really surprised you like the album that much. Cool.

Yeah, I love it. The best songs on it are just marvellous. So infectious too. I just find they're in my head all the time.

Hmmm..... what type of band? Modern rock?

Nope. They're a Synthpop/Pop Rock band. Very 80's sounding.

 

 

Don't even bother, Russ. I can assure you you'd hate it.

 

Just listened to a few tracks. They kind of remind me of the Cranberries for some reason.

Guns N' Roses are working on a new studio record.

One to track down.

 

I think both songs suck.

 

 

WOW

 

Interesting how people can have such different opinions on songs.

I love them both, particularly the second one.

 

The second isn't a BAD song per se; you just need to get the name "Steelheart" and what it connotates in the classic sense out of your brain before you listen.

Yeah, the 2nd song isn't horrible but I agree with Dan...... remove Steelheart from your noggin before you listen.

 

 

Not heard Degreed or DaVinci yet, but my top 10 as of today would be;

 

9. Muna - About U

I'm really surprised you like the album that much. Cool.

 

 

Yeah, I love it. The best songs on it are just marvellous. So infectious too. I just find they're in my head all the time.

 

Hmmm..... what type of band? Modern rock?

Since it's Lee Small, I'm interested in checking this out.

Just got this and ready to be spun.

How could anyone say Address the Nation is heavy?!

Compared to the first two discs..... yes...... definitely heavier.

Sounds excellent. Much better.