LABEL: Z RECORDS ZR1997014
OVERALL: 81%
Produced by: Damned Nation
OVERALL: 81%
Produced by: Damned Nation
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LABEL: Z RECORDS ZR1997014 OVERALL: 81% Produced by: Damned Nation | ||||
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This is the second Damned Nation album I think and the first for Z Records. These guys know how to craft a catchy hard rock tune, with plenty of melody in there for AOR fans also. Their last album was more than 3 years back and it's nice to see the guys back again. Especially for fans of European hard rock and especially Scandinavian hard rock. There are AOR moments on this album, hooks and harmonies aside, but hard rock is the name of the game here. The second half of the album mellows over the first. The production is OK, but on the heavier number the sound tends to be muddied a little. Infact, Come Hell Or High Water is about as heavy and intro as you could get! Road Of Desire and Calling Your Loveline continue that, but not quite as heavy. The more AOR feel comes through on the excellent uptempo and hook filled When The Truth Becomes A Lie and the great AOR ballad Soulstealer. | ||
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I Got What It Takes is also very melodic. It's heavier but has a great anthem-ish chorus. The vocals also rise an octave and it all sounds very Swedish?! Life Is A Mission is mid paced and more melodic again. This and the last few tracks is what I prefer from the guys rather than the heavier end of their sound. Maybe with a sharper production it would all seems more even. Love & Devotion chops and changes from an acoustic intro to a more heavy and progressive sound and back again. Not bad. Coming Home is straight ahead hard rock. The acoustic ballad Endless Dream ends the album. Nice song and strong David Coverdale sort of vocals, but we have heard many similar songs like this before. A good album from the guys, one which follows up their debut nicely. Heavier in most places than that debut and stronger songs, but the production probably lets it all down a little. | PRODUCTION: 72% | SONGS: 84% | VIBE: 82% | ATTITUDE: 82% | ESSENTIAL FOR: Damned Nation fans, European hard rock fans, heavy AOR fans. |
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DISCOGRAPHY:Just What The Doctor Ordered . Road Of Desire
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