The Struts - Pretty Vicious (Big Machine Records)
The bastard love child of The Stones, Def Leppard and Queen, The Struts have been flying the Union Jack for glammy hard rock for a number of years, and much like the Sheffield based band they are probably bigger overseas in the Good Ol’ USA than they are in their native country. Thankfully for them they are now getting the recognition here too, their incendiary live show filling up with some modern/classic rock anthems. Frontman Luke Spiller has said that this record “showcases each member’s strengths” and that it’s “some of my favourite music we’ve ever conjured up”.
Dirty Honey - Can't Find The Brakes (Dirt Records)
I wasn't around when Aerosmith first burst on to the scene but bloody hell I'm sure I've expereinced something similar with Can't Find The Brakes from bright young things Dirty Honey. Bluesy, sleazy, hard rock with louche easy guitar riffing and raw, sneering vocals. The foursome of Marc LaBelle (vocals), John Notto (guitar), Justin Smolian (bass) and new drummer Jaydon Bean made their way to Oz to record this second album with Nick DiDia behind the desk.
Unlike their debut, this album saw them all in the same room togther and you can feel that unison and creativity bleed through this record on the smouldering gospel balladry of Roam, a track that wouldn't carry the same weight if they were seperated. Those gospel harmonies come on the Rival Sons/Zep of Get A Little High, the influence of drummer Jaydon's a cappella background very prominant. It's one of the factors that Dirty Honey have improved upon on Can't Find The Brakes, they can knock out a bluesy rock song with the best of them, Don't Put Out That Fire shows that right at the beginning or Ride On towards the end. But on a song such as Coming Home (Ballad Of The Shire), they really impress with an all acoustic number, that's driven by pathos and space again reminding me of Rival Sons/Zeppelin.
Emblazoned with lips, there are plenty of nods to The Rolling Stones on Can't Find The Breaks, but it's more about their authenticity to the blues based rock that they share with The Stones. They take what they need to make it modern inflecting classic blues rock with some 21st Century ideas, Satisfied is a sure fire radio hit while Rebel Son, brings some guitar shimmers and steady groove to close things out. L.A darlings Dirty Honey have raised their game with album number two, rock n roll and the blues in syncopation, driven by a young hungry band with all the skill of their forebears. Pick up this record if you're a rock fan, you won't regret it 9/10
Seventh Crystal - Infinity (Frontiers Music Srl)
After releasing Wonderland earlier this year Swedish melodic rock band Seventh Crystal, chose five songs from their studio session they believed didn't belong on the album. These are the songs they have put on Infinity, shifting their focus a little but keeping the melodic rock/AOR style. You only get five tracks here but they are self-contained within this EP and yes they wouldn't have fit as well in Wonderland.