Wales has some pretty canny Hard Rock bands in 2020 and here’s another you’ll have to add to that list – Raider whose debut EP ‘Tokyo’ is out now. If you hanker after the glory days of Melodic 80’s style Hard Rock then they have a style that tilts a hat at The Sunset Strip in its glory days but also adds a modern twist. The promos tells us the songs were “Recorded and mixed in late 2019 and early 2020” and that “Tokyo is both refreshing and nostalgic and keeps true to the feel of the old school hard rock scene.“
Citing the usual suspects as influences: Danger Danger, Skid Row and Aerosmith, it’s nice to also see Heavy Pettin’ (An interview with Gordon is coming next week) Damn Yankees, Vixen, Heavens Edge, Haywire, and even Steve Vai get a shout. Formed by bass player, Jon Hood, with Marc Campbell on rhythm the band is rounded out by Mike Platt (vocals), Alun Thomas (lead Guitar), Aled Evans (Keys) and two drummers credited – Luke Naimi on tracks 2 and 3, and Steve Eyers on tracks 1 and 2, which left me wondering if there were no drums on the final track.
I love the atmospheric opening to opening track ‘Tokyo’ and as the guitars and keys kick in you’re not reminded necessarily of The Strip but East Coast and early Bon Jovi, there’s that sort of retro vibe with a big splash of AOR, its a great rack but not quite what I was expecting ad there’s certainly no hint of the harder edge of Skid Row or the howl of Aerosmith. The spoken word interlude also doesn’t work for me either, it just kills the moment.
‘Boys Will Be Boy’s is where The Strip and Vai enter, it’s got all the pouts and the poses down and a nice late 80’s ‘Hairspray’ vibe but also some teeth and makes you imagine Skid Row and Danger Danger swapping guitarists for the day as it has the melodies of the latter and grunt of Skid Row.
‘Going Down’ is pleasingly harder edged too with a nice groove and a great vocal, sure it’s glossy,but it’s not too polished and reminds me a bit of the band whose logo Raider’s resembles – Winger. And here the stop start interlude does work.
Sadly the final track ‘Begging For More’ comes just as you’re getting into it. More atmospherics kick things off and again it’s done well before the riff comes in and with an intro just a little too long, and we’re back to that similar sound of the opener – a Bon Jovi meets Danger Danger ditty that plays with that Melodic/AOR sound. It’s good stuff but you’ve bee hearing this since the 80’s closed from hundreds of bands.
I must admit this is good but I prefer those middle two to the opener and closer than sandwich them, everyone’s doing the latter at the moment but that harder edge of the middle songs is what catches my ear.
Raider are currently working on new material in the hope of releasing a full-length album in 2021.
3.5/5
Band Line-Up: Mike Platt – Vocals | Jon Hood – Bass | Marc Campbell – Rhythm Guitar | Alun Tomos – Lead Guitar | Aled Evans – Keyboards | Luke Naimi – Drums (Tracks 2 and 3) | Steve Eyers – Drums (Tracks 1 and 2)
CD Track Listing: 1. Tokyo | 2. Boys will Be Boys | 3. Going Down | 4. Begging For More
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/raidermusicuk
https://www.instagram.com/raidermusicuk/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQJ…
https://raidermusic1.bandcamp.com/
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/raider/1513448517
https://open.spotify.com/artist/416IMKDesP1Rb5w6nH7EtK?si=4ECG9yxNS8uVyQCs7qeukw
