CD Reviews

CD REVIEWS
THE RISE OF JIMMY SILVER by Voodoo Vegas
( Voodoo Vegas Records)

'The Rise Of Jimmy Silver' is the debut release from UK hard rockers Voodoo Vegas, and looks to be the one that breaks through and gives the band the wider audience their music deserves. How do you describe a band like Voodoo Vegas? Classic rock makes them sound like anything but the brash young upstarts they are, and tags like glam rock and hair metal don't fit either. How about this, they're a rock n' roll band that remembers how to have fun and get their rocks off. Voodoo Vegas gets their rock and roll mojo from Lawrence Case on vocals/harmonica, Nick Brown on guitar/acoustic Guitar, Merylina Hamilton on guitar, Ash Moulton on bass and Matt Jolly on drums. Voodoo Vegas play a perfect mix of sleazy, groovy hard rock that harkens back to the 80's without sounding dated. All the obvious influences are here from Motley Crüe, Skid Row and Guns 'N' Roses but with a modern day vibe.   Lawrence Case's vocals are great, that reminded me of Axel Rose in his prime. While the band as a unit are rock solid. Highlights include the rocking tracks, "King Without A Crown", "Bullet" and electrically charged, "Mary Jane".  All 13 tracks are guaranteed to satisfy. These guys deserve to be rock stars. It's getting harder and harder to find a band that just wants to get sleazy and get down and dirty. I'm here to tell you , these guys aren't afraid of a little dirt. Get out your air guitar! Voodoo Vegas are here to steal your pretty young ones. Long live the rockers and rollers! - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine


BURN by Pistol Day Parade
(Goomba Music Llc)

Detroit, Michigan's Pistol Day Parade have made a name themselves in their beloved The Motor City. With the release of their debut album, 'Burn', the band are ready to put the rest of the nation and the world on notice. Pistol Day Parade is, Dave Fuller on vocals,
Rob Banks on guitar ,Guido Johnson on guitar, Jason Lollio on bass and Jason Hartless on drums. Pistol Day Parade blend great rock hooks, with solid lyrics, and a sound that is a perfect fit for Rock radio. "Rockstar's Girlfriend", "High", "New Life" "Angels On Fire" and "Not Today" are all excellent tunes that are guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. Every track is loaded with energy, attitude, and passion. 'Burn' is everything I like to hear in a modern day rock album walls of guitars, melodies, powerful singing, and variety of tempos. Pistol Day Parade accomplishes all of that in this strong debut outing. Overall, 'Burn' is a fantastic album with no filler tracks. I can listen to the album all the way through without skipping any tracks, which is a rarity these days. This band is a powerhouse of talent. If you like rock music that isn't pushing the borders of metal or screaming obscenities into your ear drums, then Pistol Day Parade is a great band you should check out and this album can be a great start. - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

DIAMOND HEART by Ladies Of The Canyon
(Warner Music Canada)

Canada's Ladies Of The Canyon return with their sophomore release, 'Diamond Heart'. Produced by Mark Howard (The Tragically Hip, Lucinda Williams, Vic Chesnutt). The band is made up of four friends who got together in their living rooms to write and sing songs influenced by their favorite bands, The Eagles, the Band and Fleetwood Mac. Maia Davies (vocals, guitars, mandolin, keyboards), Jasmine Bleile (vocals, guitars) and Anna Ruddick (electric and upright bass, vocals) and Tara Martin on drums have their distinct tone and personality, but when they come together for harmonies, it's a gorgeous, soaring blend. While these ladies may wear their influences on their sleeves, they deliver a sound that is uniquely their own. "You And All Your Famous Friends" opens the album is fine fashion. From there on with, "The Change", "Let's Take The Night" and the title track echoing classic Buckingham Nicks. these ladies take your senses on a musical ride that will make you feel oh so good. They also serve up a hauntingly powerful take on The Led Zeppelin classic, "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" that just stopped me dead in my tracks. The energy, emotion, passion, and musical mastery of this album is simply compelling. 'Diamond Heart' is a superbly produced album that is straight forward and filled with emotion. The Ladies Of The Canyon boast a degree of combined talents that most rock groups could only dream of. These ladies certainly deliver the goods! - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

TOMORROWLAND BLUES by Star & Dagger
( MRI Music)

Star & Dagger is made up of good friends Sean Yseult (White Zombie), Dava She Wolf (Cycle Sluts From Hell), and the sublime vocalist Von Hesseling. The band's debut release, 'Tomorrowland Blues', is a slab of heavy blues acid rock that hits hard and it rocks heavy. Picture Nancy Sinatra meets Shirley Manson of Garbage in three way with the lads in Black Sabbath. That is pretty much what you get here with Star & Dagger. The album is straight to the point. You get ten rocking tunes that clocks in a little over half and hour. Once you press play and the sledgehammer, "In My Blood",  charges out of your speakers, its obvious that these ladies are pulling no punches and are not holding anything back. Setting the stage for the rest of the songs. Before you know it you realize you are hooked and theres no turning back. “End Of Days” is up next highlighted by Dava' s riffing madness that gets meaner and heavier till the last note. I just love the swagger these ladies bring. The song most likely to stick in your heads for days is the album closer, "Your Mama Was A Grifter". A bluesy rock and roller that feature Chris Lee of Supagroup on backing vocals. Von Hesseling' s vocals are intriguing and has a charm about it that draws you in. All in all  'Tomorrowland Blues', is a rock solid recording. Three hot rocking femme fatales cranking it up and getting their rocks off with the bass turned way up! Come on now, who wouldn't want to experience that?! Nothing special, you might think, but it's the swagger and attitude these ladies bring to the table that makes this recording special. Star & Dagger are pretty BADASS if you ask me. - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

SUPERMACHINE by Supermachine
(Small Stone Records)

After listening to Supermachine you become painfully aware of what is wrong with American radio. Here is a band that should be getting Heavy rotation and filling arenas. All the songs served up on their self-titled debut release are great and they give you a shot of adrenaline. Hailing from Southern New Hampshire Supermachine is, David Nebbia on vocals, Jay Fortin on guitar, Paul Jarvis on bass and Mike McNeil on drums. The first thing that struck me about this release is the fantastic groove throughout that never at any point becomes tiresome. There are plenty of straight up hard rock songs, such as the energetic "Solution", which acts as a perfect kick-start. The next two tracks, "Broken"and "Transformer" are straight forward in approach but executed with such energy and power. Then you a track like, "Buffalo" that is extremely catchy, and the commanding vocal delivery from David Nebbia on "Pill Cruise" is sure to get your adrenaline going.  Too many times bands of this genre simply re-hash repetitive riffing, but Jay Fortin's guitar work on this recording  is spot on. Sumptuous time changes and riff chopping/changing that simply floors you as a listener, making you guess the next direction they will take makes this a display of refined and ultimately skilful playing. Supermachine's debut outing has all the elements to be considered a classic album in the field of the so called "Stoner Rock", and I believe Supermachine have enough potential to become the leaders in the genre, PERIOD. - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @ The Dedicated Rocker Society

WELCOME TO THE CROSSROADS by Koritni
(Verycords Records)

Australia based rockers Koritni return with their third release, 'Welcome To The Crossroads', and if you thought the boys rocked on their previous outing, 'Game Of Fools', this time around the boys bring it! This Aussie rock juggernaut is powered by Lex Koritni on vocals, Eddy Santacreu on guitars, Luke Cuerden on guitars, Dean Matt Hunter on bass and Chris Brown on drums. 'Welcome To The Crossroads', is great album filled with Blues based rock songs in a class of their own. There are actually no bad songs on the album but here's a couple that stood out to me. The album opener, "Down At The Crossroads" featuring Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman, W.E.T). The song gives off that Aerosmith vibe ala 'Draw The Line' era. Then there is the ballys rocker, "Better Off Dead" featuring Rusty Brown from Electric Mary. "Lost For Words" is a mid-tempo mover with a catchy chorus, showing that when it comes to rocking Koritni can rock out with the best of them and these boys deliver the goods. "Money Talks, It Says Goodbye" is another number worth mentioning. A bluesy rocker that some tasty guitar work courtesy of Santacreu and Cuerden. 12 tracks total all are solid balls of rock. While the band is top notched, it's Lex Koritni vocals that give the band it's bite. What can you say about this guy, he is absolutely a powerhouse singer. If you haven't heard of Koritni yet, and you like great, solid straight ahead rock, then you owe it to yourself to discover this awesome band! Get your hands on, 'Welcome To The Crossroads', hit play and prepare to get rocked! Koritni are the real deal, and given even the slightest chance, would be huge here in America. - Highly Recommended
The Atomic Chaser@ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

MORE THAN ONE WAY HOME by Voodoo Circle
(AFM Records)

Voodoo Circle return with their highly anticipated third album 'More Than One Way Home'. This time around the band deliver a high octane set of songs soaked in classic rock influences and a feeling of the bombastic rocking times of the eighties. Lead by the powerful vocals of David Readman from Pink Cream 69 and the awesome guitar playing of Alex Beyrodt from Primal Fear, in some ways Voodoo Circle have that modern day vibe of Whitesnake with some additional influences from bands such as Uriah Heep and Rainbow. Make no mistake Voodoo Circle are are here to carve their own niche in the pages of the history of rock music. Right off the bat, the opening slab of rock "Graveyard City", hits like a category five hurricane. Then you have the melodic gem, "The Ghost In Your Heart", to the sledge hammer of a rocker "Bane Of My Existence" which reminded me of something off a PC69 album. Then the band go for the kill with"Victim Of Love".  If you've been looking for a recording that is chalk block full of good old fashion hard rock. This album is guaranteed to satisfy. What it all boils down to is that 'More Than One Way Home ' is a monster of recording. Voodoo Circle are clearly a band having fun showing off the musical influences of their youth and should be commended for doing one hell of a job! The songs, the lyrics, the hooks and the bridges just get you rocking and all you have to do is turn this bad boy up to the max! - Highly Recommended
The Atomic Chaser@The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine