I’ve waited a long time to hear this one, after enjoying the lead up singles over the last months I knew it would be good, but you know what? This has to be one of the best of the year!
Opening up with the great riff, groove and drive of the eminently singable ‘Under Destruction’ if you like old-school Blues-tinged Hard and Heavy Rock and Roll then you’ll love what Switzerland’s King Zebra have put together here. ‘She Don’t Like My R’n’R’ is of course maybe even better, slower, groovier and catchier it shows you in just two track that these guys are seriously good.
‘Desperate’ ups the pace and ticks the boxes yet strangely for me is the only track her that fails to really excite. That can’t be said for the wonderful ‘Wall Of Confusion’ which features a guest vocal from Thundermother’s Guernica Mancini – it’s wonderful stuff and one of the real highlights, but there’s plenty of competition!
‘On the Run’, another song that looks back to the good old days (which is a bit of a recurring theme here) is another sweeping melodic winner, and ‘Rush’ which adds a touch of atmosphere and some wonderful guitar is maybe even better. ‘Hot Cop Lady’ too hits the spot and makes you remember when rock was just plain and simple fun. This is an 80’s Rocker as good as we had ’em back in the day!
‘We’re the Survivors’ that leads the charge home, is perhaps the most Melodic of anything here, and whilst the vibe is a little out of kilter it’s an undeniably great song and rather reminds you of Danger Danger nd their ilk. Penultimate track ‘We Are One’ takes a heavier route and just lacks that killer punch but it’s an interesting direction. Closer ‘Be the Hunter’ is the big fat cherry on the top, made to be played loud and heard live! Great record!
8.5/10