This is an interesting one at the start of the year – the impressive pipes of Animal Drives’ Dino Jelusic plus the guitar of George Lynch creating Hard Rock in the style of vintage Rainbow with added edge and bite. Well initially at least…
Opening with the epic early Rainbow meets Dio almost seven minute ‘Here Comes The King’ it’s certainly a mighty introduction to the band. Interestingly after that epic Hard Rocker things get looser – with a lilting bluesy almost Winger-like party groove to ‘Dirty Blues.’ I’m impressed even allowing for the genre hopping…
‘I Disappear’ is another almost seven minute song, but again different, this one more vintage Queensryche in feel as it crawls along languidly, flowing and down-tuned towards you feel towards the epic guitar solo that sets it all off. Its a song that whilst still rather cool already feels a bit out of place and out of character, though the light and airy ‘The Dying’ is different again like a 90’s take on Dokken – four very different songs to kick off and if I’m honest I’m confused…
Not in a bad way, or course, just that after those openers I had expected more in the same vein like maybe ‘Last Man Standing’ that follows with a real Lynch Mob groove. As the press release hints this is a bit of a ‘bista’ – “The Dirty Shirley band project therefore covers many grounds in the songwriting departments offering different influences from 80’s Metal to 70’s and 90’s sounds and covering a wide spectrum of styles (from classic Metal to more “traditional” Lynch Mob oriented sounds) showcasing George Lynch more inspired and creative than ever and the absolutely over the top vocals from Dino!“
And that variety continues throughout,now most times that’s an issue for me, but it isn’t here because these are simply when you boil it all down just damned good songs. And with a line-up completed by two new names to me – Trevor Roxx on bass and Will Hunt on drums you’re onto a winner. Sadly like a lot of Frontiers releases it’s debatable if the band has any plans to play live and if that’s the case it’s a crying shame.
If you want more evidence of that try the Melodic Metal leanings of ‘Siren Song’; the almost funky Stoner feel of ‘Cold’ or the highlight for me ‘Escalator’ – a low down and dirty Southern Boogie that really is all class. That just leaves on mystery whether the name derives from the cocktail or the amp head or something else entirely?
A modern twist on the Rock of the past? A nice way to start the new decade.
Line-up: Dino Jelusic – lead vocals | George Lynch – guitars | Trevor Roxx – bass | Will Hunt – drums