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    Heaven's Metal #18/Idle Cure
    Idle Cure — Tough Love cover

    Idle Cure

    Tough Love

    (1988)

    Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

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    Label Frontline RecordsHeaven's Metal #18September 1988
    aorarena rockhard rockmelodic rock

    The new Idle Cure album...are we gonna hear some more songs like "Breakaway"? Not this time. Instead we have a plush, full sound similar to Whiteheart's "Emergency Broadcast". There's layer upon layer of textured harmonies here, sometimes as huge and ominous as the entire rhythm section, identifying Idle Cure as an arena-size pop rock band with an 80's accent of sax and keys. There's plenty of gritty vocals and crunchy guitars produced with a spit-shine polish. Bill Baumgar did another stellar job producing this one. If you're a hardcore headbanger, you might want to pass on this album. But, if you appreciate most of today's heavy pop sound, you'll probably like Idle Cure's new album. "Tough Love" is a little more consistent than their debut album, which featured almost as many styles and musical directions as number of cuts. All the songs on this album seem to go in the same direction. "Just Believe It" has the heaviest drum sound and clear cut power chords, while "Frontline" features the loudest vocal harmonies. If you thought you'd heard the ballad "So Many Faces" before, it's because the keyboard and drum intro sounds like a dead ringer for Whitesnake's "Is This Love?" Lyrically this album is very straightforward and evangelistic. "Barter Mercy" drives home the message that we can't cover up our sins to make ourselves or our ministries look good, because God sees right through our lies and will reveal our hearts judgment day. Overall, this is a good album that shouldn't be ignored by radio programmers. It'd be nice to see Idle Cure succeed at their airplay formula.

    Other coverage for this album

    Adonai Metal Rock #2Reviewed by DMZTranslated from the original French The long-awaited act 2 of the most famous band in White Metal (on the FM side, let us make that clear from the outset). "Tough Love" it is called... My dictionary told me it means something like "Amour Coriace". Tough, yes!! I saw them in concert recently (in West Germany), it is properly nailed on stage as in the studio, the big sound, you know! And love, it…

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    Also in Heaven's Metal #18

    1988XaltDark War1988Divine RightPowerchange1988SentryBreakin' Free1987JerusalemDancing on the Head of the SerpentKIGAArmor of Light1988StraightwayOne Way to Heaven