Jamie Rowe's vocals were born for melodic rock. While I loved the direction Guardian took with Buzz and Bottle Rocket, the blues-based hard rock he and Guardian rollicked in during the Fire and Love and Miracle Mile era were top notch. It seems this part of him never died, and now it's slingshot firing him back into that scene with a flurry of hammer-ons. Enter a new band that majors in this feel-good, melodic direction. These guys are true 80's metal musicians, but I hear strong loyalties to the metal of the 70's here. I hear R&B guitar influences from early Aerosmith ("Walkin' The Dog"), Zeppelin's acoustic textures ("Honey Child") and the power chord attitude of Kiss ("Feel The Fire"), along with big-time gang vocals a la Van Halen. The musical mix is confident, and lets their identity express itself. Production-wise, it's almost perfect. 'Indie-rock' naysayers beware: these bad boys rock so darn well that cheap shots are best saved for the fakers. Steelheart and Winger fans have a Y2K album release to add to their vintage collection.
One of the first things you'll notice lyrically is that Jamie Rowe's influence is felt. While not heavy-handed with evangelical sermonizing, he takes girl / love themes and keeps 'em from crossing that promiscuous line of debauchery without losing attitude or innocence:
"Walk beside me, little honey child / Doin' things girl, you know, that drive me wild" ("Honey Child")
"If we became friends / If we became lovers / I would give you my world / Like I gave to no other" ("Just Let Me Love You")
Other songs not penned by Jamie (who was asked to add his vocals to an album already written) reflect a similar mindset:
"Mission man, on your way / I see right through the lies . . . We now know what not to do and who not to trust / Sink so low / Our country now is ruined by your lust" ("Mission Man")
"When you gonna learn, fire only burns / Every road and bridge you take / Won't you ever know, that's no way to go / Live the way you live / And you reap what you sow" ("Reap What You Sow")
It's one thing to make metal in the new millennium, and it's another to do it justice. Adrian Gale joins a small, select collection of bands (Dream Theater, Rob Rock, Balance Of Power) and does both.
Similar sounding releases
1999GuardianSunday Best
2001Bon JoviOne Wild Night
2001Joshua PerahiaSomething To Say
1990Idle Cure2nd Avenue
1993PetraWake Up Call
1992The KryI'll Find You There
