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I hadn't paid any attention to these guys for whatever reason. I think mostly I just didn't think I could dig a hard rock band from india. Not trying to be offensive or anything....Just not really what I think of as a hotbed for hard rock/metal music. Well, have been checking out the 3 singles form the upcoming album and have to say I'm digging them. I was checking some of the stuff from their first 2 albums. Not finding a whole lot on the debut of interest. Second album has a few songs sounding pretty good. But these new songs all seem to have a bigger sound than they've had before. Will keep eyes on this.

Agree. Very good tune.

Kissin Dynamite and Shiraz Lane are my top 2 I'm looking forward to. Degreed is up there, as is HEAT. Not really sure about HEAT....Will be very interesting to hear how they sound with Kenny. The tidbit they teased in a recent video sounds pretty good. Also might be new Defiants this year from the sounds of it.

Another new tune out. Have to say I'm really digging everything they've released from this so far. The songs show some nice variety but all are catchy and melodic in their own way.

Agree, much better than the first track. This is more along the lines of what I was probably expecting. Still kind of wish it was more melodic/catchy but I guess this style of music generally isn't all that catchy. I mean, I like tunes that I hear and I find myself humming it to myself later because it's stuck in my head. Don't see that happening with this. I thinking so far this will be a pass for me but we'll see what future songs bring.

I wonder if this will hit streaming? Not really buying many CD's anymore so probably won't buy this. Good band though and wouldn't mind checking this out if it hits streaming. They definitely have some good tunes.

First review I've seen or the new album: https://www.therockpit.net/2021/kissin-dynamite-not-the-end-of-the-road-album-review/ If you listen to opener and title track ‘Not the End of the Road’ with it’s huge melodies, uber-catchy chorus and sublime guitars and fail to be moved you probably don’t like the same kind of music as me. This is 80’s flavored Melodic Hard Rock with power and passion – and this their seventh outing and first on Napalm Records may well be their best so far. What you get this time is 12 tracks of Rock that should be filling stadiums, and now as a five piece the sound is just spectacular. If you love Eclipse, Crazy Lixx and their ilk then I’m glad this sees a 2022 release as it just might have ousted their latest from contention for album on 2021. ‘What Goes Up’ is a little more laid back with a huge groove and hypnotic refrain, ‘Only the Dead’ picks things up a little and is just as compelling, but it’s ‘Good Life (featuring Saltatio Mortis / Alea, Guernica Mancini & Charlotte Wessels)’ that shows that there’s more than one side to these German giants. It’s a song that shows a real deftness of touch and allows Braun’s vocals to shine – more than just a ballad, it’s a wonderful moment of calm amidst the perfect storm. The intriguingly-titled ‘Yoko Ono’ adds a little Pop savvy, danceability and quirkiness, whilst ‘Coming Home’ really hits the spot, it might have a little too much synth for some but I find the balance just right. It’s a mid-tempo ballad in the vein of Bon Jovi, just much better than their last few decades output. You’ll be singing this one for sure! We’re back and rocking for ‘All for a Halleluja’ which slips down nicely and is another huge song. ‘No One Dies a Virgin’ which follows just races out of the traps with some great lyrics (‘No one dies a virgin, in the end life f**ks us all’) and a flurry of fiery guitar, but just when you think they can’t push that bar higher it’s ‘Gone for Good’ the second lighter moment that for me shows the real talent within the band. It’s huge, it’s sublime, it’s tear-jerkingly, goose-bump inducingly spectacular! And what is this? Not content with that huge moment they immediately hit you with another! ‘Defeat It’ another of the best here, it’s a rocker in the classic mold that for me has echoes of Scorpions in the 80’s glory, but it’s more than that – it’s huge, and one of my songs of the year! Drawing close to the end of a rather special release ‘Voodoo Spell’ adds a nice twist – all tribal beats before a clean guitar cuts in and we launch into those cool verses and soaring choruses, all held together with the repeated guitar refrain. It’s another winner! Closer ‘Scars’ starts with gentle stripped back acoustic and voice – it’s the mellowest moment here and maybe an insight into the evolution of KD’s slower numbers, gently orchestrated and wonderfully subtle it’s fitting set-closer. If 2022 is going to be this good we’re in for a treat! 9/10

Good article. Never thought I'd get into streaming as I loathed it and I was all about physical media. But I've been converted after CD's disappeared from cars and I was forced into streaming. Yeah, streaming doesn't sound as immaculate but I've gotten over that. It's just great having so much music at my fingertips all the time and being able to create any playlist I want in a flash. I do still buy a few CD's....think I bought 5 or 6 in 2020. But how many of those have I actually listened to via CD? Zero. I've basically only looked at the booklets for lyrics, credits, etc and bought them more just to have and support the artists than to actually use. I really only have one CD player left and the same machine streams bluetooth so just way easier to stream. As for vinyl, I just don't get that at all. I mean, I never liked it when it was all there was. Never thought it sounded all that great with needles scratching records....I frankly despised vinyl. I'm really surprised it's made the type of comeback it has. The industry has clearly changed. I'd like to see artists start going more outside the box with physical product offers. Things like earbooks are pretty cool....Load them up with pictures, stories on the band, lyrics, etc and toss a CD in it. Or maybe add codes into a CD package for online access to a website with exclusive content, discounts at a merch store or whatever. Basically, just think artists need to find new way to sell their music physically than just tossing out a CD. I know I'll get to the point fairly soon where I probably stop buying them altogether as it's pretty pointless for me to buy them now if I'm not even using them.

Happy Holidays!

Rainmaker is probably my favorite song on this album also. Just a fantastic tune. My biggest complaint is that Thin Disguise should've been on the album as I dig that tune. I'm glad it's basically made it on through the remasters but should've been there all along. That said though, I love the whole album. This album dropped when I was 18 and had just graduated high school and beginning college. Lots of good memories associated with this album.

New tune out. Have to say I was a little skeptical at first with a song titled "Yoko Ono" but digging it! Looking forward to this album dropping in January.

I agree. If they had just done that chorus differently and let Erik soar with it while maybe mixing in some backing vocals, it would've been a solid tune. I do still think I'll find a few tunes on this release I'll end up digging as I'd think they're bound to have some more melodic type choruses.

Sure, why not? The day is probably coming when everything will be mostly digital/streaming anyways. I know I don't buy many CDs anymore. It's all USB sticks and/or streaming for me. So while there was a time when I would scoffed at a digital only release, I don't think I'd frown on it anymore being how things have changed.

I wonder that too. I know I saw some interviews with Ronnie where he said the band hadn't really been active much since COVID started. But that was back when his first solo album was dropping earlier this year. Haven't heard much since that. This 2nd solo album sure seems to suggest the band is probably on hiatus or something. Or at the least no new material is very imminent if this is where Ronnie's focus has been.

Excellent stuff! These guys have done a lot of different sounding stuff but for me this song suits them perfectly....edgy, catchy, melodic hard rock. Don't think I could say it's the best they've done but do like it a lot. I will say though that for me, this tune absolutely blows away anything on that Robin Red solo album. Looking forward to this album for sure.

That's a good point I hadn't thought of. Of course the hospitals are going to treat whoever comes in because it's the right thing to do. Hospitals don't turn away people that make stupid choices. I guess what I was saying above was really that it's just hypocritical for somebody who is unvaccinated, gets COVID and then heads to the hospital for treatment. You didn't trust science and medicine enough to take the vaccine but now you want medicine and science to save you? Insurance is probably a whole different issue and yes, that's out of control in addition to the whole medical billing system. Those are issues for another thread

This is the problem. They end up getting sick, filling the hospitals and taking resources and care away from other people. I personally know somebody that had a bad stomach pain recently. They went to the ER near and sat in the waiting room for 12 hours before being seen and that was only because the pain had gotten so bad that they were demanding to be seen. Turned out the person had appendicitis and it had ruptured while in the waiting room. They were rushed into emergency surgery and almost died.....But did survive. Basically that waiting time was the result of two things....The hospital packed with COVID cases and lack of staff due to them quitting because of vaccine mandates. So the combination of people quitting their jobs because they don't want to get vaccinated combined with the rising COVID cases is just a bad combination. And according to people I know that work in the medical field, they say the vast majority of people showing up at hospitals for COVID treatment are unvaccinated people. I respect the right of people not to get vaccinated....I really do. If you don't want to trust science and medicine and that's your belief, then great. But if somebody is that strongly anti-vaccine/anti-science & medicine, then stay the heck out of the hospital if you come down with it. Just let it run it's course and whatever happens, happens. Don't go running to the Doctor to save you by using medicine and treatment when you never wanted it in the first place. This thing is never going away on our current trajectory.

Same for me. I thought the first single was decent but nothing else grabbed me.

Erik sounds good but song does little for me. Really don't like the chorus...if you can even call that a chorus.

Agree...that sounds better. Still potential here and Erik makes it listenable. This first single could've been pretty good with a different structured chorus so hopefully other tunes are a bit better. Still not sure its going to be melodic/catchy enough for my tastes which is generally my problem with this genre.

Hmmm...It's okay. I dig Erik's vocals and overall the music sounds good. It definitely rocks. Not sure I care much for whatever is going on with the chorus though with the group chorus thing or whatever. I think something different there might've made me dig it more. Erik sounds great though and this could grow on me some. That said, still much prefer what he was doing in H.E.A.T to this.

I liked it but didn't love it for whatever reason. I guess I just wish it was a bit heavier/edgier but I know the point was to do something a bit different . I'd say I Prophesize is among my favorite tunes this year though. Think I saw another solo album is expected in the spring of 2022.

As we approach the end of the year, not aware of anything else coming out that will be changing my final list... As of now for me... 1) Midnite City - Itch You Can't Scratch 2) Eclipse - Wired 3) Temple Balls - Pyromide 4) Crazy Lixx - Street Lethal 5) Dangerous Curves - Summertime Highs 6) Nestor - Kids In A Ghost Town 7) Wet - Retransmission 8) Maverick - Ethereality 9) Wicked Smile - Wait For The Night 10) Walk the Walk - S/T Honorable mention: Ronnie Atkins - One Shot Really strong year overall for me as it's been awhile since I've even been able to do a legit top 10.

I thought I had seen Nov 29th somewhere for first single but not sure.

I'd say yes. Think the singer has matured and gained more control. That debut EP and even first album has some very screechy vocals. Check songs from Carnival Days like The Crown, War of Mine, People Like Us, etc. Or check songs from Vibration like Revolution and Do You. If you still don't like those tunes, then move on 😀