The one minute and seventeen seconds of gentle acoustic guitar that opens this second release from Perth’s own Sister Switchblade reminds me of the intro to Icon’s mighty ‘Hungry for Love’ a deep cut of classy 80’s Rock that I simply love and as a result for once I find myself OK with a short instrumental track opening up an album.
‘Jezebel’ that busts out of the speakers with siren wailing immediately after might be a well worn lyric but it’s a cool song with a nice 80’s groove and plenty of bite and when you then add the ‘Skid Row via Sunset Strip’ vibe of ‘Ain’t Your Valentine’ it’s already looking like a good day for Australian Hard Rock. The truth is though that this one just gets even better, there’s a shot of AC/DC in ‘Hard Line;’ whilst ‘Oh Tiana’ has a Bluesy, Whisky-soaked groove and arena size chorus. That’s before ‘The Ace Won’t Wait’ takes us back to Sleaze rock heaven circa 1987.
Half way in ‘Love Kinda Rusty’ gives you a slight respite, building like that opening track but with guitars plugged in and set to stun, it finally bursts to life with a wonderful slice of vintage Aussie rock that has a little of The Angels and The Tatts about it along with the AC/DC. That’s swiftly followed by the shimmering and melodic noise that is ‘Beautiful Mess’ and the high energy crunch of ‘Bad Little Bitch’ which again takes us down and dirty.
All too soon we’re at the business end though: ‘Come Alive’ is a cool melodic rocker, the sister song to “Beautiful Mess’ and it opens the door nicely for the foot-stomping ‘Share My Disease’ before we draw things to a close with one of the very best here- ‘This Love is Dead’ which signs off the album with a Crue-like crunching riff and a wailing solo that puts the icing on this second birthday cake.
More greats stuff from the Western Coast of Australia.
