THE Dead Daises - Make Some Noise (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Spitfire Music (SPV)

Track listing:

01 - Long Way To Go
02 - We All Fall Down
03 - Song And A Prayer
04 - Mainline
05 - Make Some Noise
06 - Fortunate Son
07 - Last Time I Saw The Sun
08 - Mine All Mine
09 - How Does It Feel
10 - Freedom
11 - All The Same
12 - Join Together

Super-group THE DEAD DAISIES are back with a brand spanking new album titled "Make Some Noise", and boy does this album rock!
The band’s third album "Make Some Noise" reflects revolving door policy with regards to its members well as we have  Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner), David Lowy (Mink), John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, Union, The Scream) and Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) all on board alongside the most recent addition of a guitar wizard Doug Aldrich, who is best known for his work with Whitesnake and Dio. To put it simply, this band bloody Rocks.
This album has everything, from all out rockers with a modern edge such as opening track, 'Long Way To Go' to 'Mainline' which adds a bit of rough bluesy flavour to the band’s sound with its unbelievable intensity and a generous dose of Doug Aldrich’s impeccable licks. 'We All Fall Down' is a thick, modern riff and feisty hook, a deliberate homage to the contemporary era rather than a throwback to the past. 'Song And A Prayer' is certainly more radio-friendly than its predecessor, its choruses somewhat Aerosmith-esque. The we have the title track, 'Make Some Noise' with its simple, but powerful drum beat and group chant of the album’s title track brings to mind the picture of a sea of fists pumping up in the air and fans chanting together with their idols. It’s the same primal power of Rock music that was captured and immortalized in dozens if not hundreds of songs prior to this one, such as Queen’s classic We Will Rock You. It’s thus no wonder such seasoned musicians as The Dead Daisies understand how seductive it remains, in spite of its simplicity. Also their approach to Creedence Clearwater’s Revival 'Fortunate Son' remains rather unsophisticated, their take on it being no drastic alteration in comparison to the original.
'Last Time I Saw the Sun', is a hit of a track that Cinderella should have written plus with a shot of Mötley Crüe – shaken, stirred, and distilled to hear over and over again.
No prisoners are taken with  'Mine All Mine', 'How Does It Feel', 'Freedom', all of them gritty, groovy pieces exceptional for their intensity. With the feistiness of 'All The Same' approaching, you can’t help but wonder if modern-day Aerosmith is still able to deliver such treats in the recording studio.
With a certain laid-back, live vibe to it, the final track 'Join Together' is a fine younger brother to 'Make Some Noise' and another staple in the band’s future set lists.

The band are as tight as fuck, the songs are brilliantly written and executed to perfection, but then again you wouldn't really expect anything else when you consider the pool of talent on display here!
One thing to note, I don't thing I've heard John Corabi sound this good since his days in The Scream and Motley Crue!

Very Highly recommended

Rating: 10/10

SWEET & LYNCH - Only To Rise (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Frontiers Music

 

Track listing:

01 - The Wish
02 - Dying Rose
03 - Love Stays
04 - Time Will Tell
05 - Rescue Me
06 - Me Without You
07 - Recover
08 - Divine
09 - September
10 - Strength In Numbers
11 - Hero-Zero
12 - Only To Rise
 

"Only To Rise" is the debut album title, and SWEET & LYNCH is the name of the newest super-group to come together to make some old fashion, ass kickin’ classic US Hard Rock.
This pairing only seems awkward upon first glance, but there's a perfect logic to these guys hooking up.
Michael Sweet himself has stated on record he'd considered Lynch a 'bucket list' musician to work with and, straight outta the Eighties, SWEET & LYNCH was born.
Bringing along with them awesome skin basher Brian Tichy (Foreigner, Whitesnake, Billy Idol) on drums and James LoMenzo (White Lion, Megadeth, Lynch Mob) on bass, the unit's debut "Only to Rise", is, well, pretty durned cool.
"The Wish" rings precisely like you might expect, an amalgam between Stryper and Dokken with a hair more toughening up. As a mid-tempo power jam, Michael Sweet pounces upon the straight-laced lines and for the most part soars overtop George Lynch's steady riffs.
The song is written in the classic verse-chorus hard rock format, hitting Lynch's solo precisely where expected and the tune wraps up nice 'n' tidy as "Like a Dying Rose" struts out from it.
This track carries more Lynch Mob influence as Lynch chucks some bluesy plugs amidst the bobbing bass and floating keyboards. Sweet sounds relaxed as he molds his pitch to fit the lowdown groove of the cut.
The same can be said of the dirtier blues rawker "Rescue Me".
"Love Stays" could've been a predictable power ballad, but there's a heavier swing to this track even as it tails at a leisurely pace. This song is louder and chocked full of George Lynch's peals and rips where he can get away with them, but otherwise, it has far more oomph than meets the eye.
"Me Without You", features a gorgeous intro and threading melody by Lynch to compliment Sweet's harmonious croons. Sounding a bit like the Scorpions as the would-be ballad winds along, "Me Without You"'s biggest strength is the stellar vocal harmonizing aside from George Lynch's stress-free solo.
"Time Will Tell" changes the pace as Lynch and James LoMenzo ride hard upon Brian Tichy's crashing march. Reverberating chords and a determined bass channel thickens up this stout tune that carries an '80s action film verve about it. Accordingly, Michael Sweet reserves his best octaves for this one and the song blazes. The backing vocals are particularly great, one of the most uplifting songs Lynch or Sweet has ever put his name behind.
As much as this album stays in a low-rolling tempo, "Recover" finally steps on the gas with James LoMenzo's bass driving what becomes a Stryper-based rocker with more of a blues base to it. Sweet lets his falsettos fly free with "Recover"'s banging groove and lofting choruses. Appropriately, George Lynch, who delivers mostly tempered solos on the preceding tracks, cuts loose on this one.
Dipping back to mid-tempo, the band jams like beasts on the crawling "Divine". Only on the appositely sugary choruses does this song ease up, and Michael Sweet seizes those opportunities to remind his listeners to avoid letting the sins of the world swamp their lives.
There's classic choruses on "September", hot riffs in "Strength in Numbers" and "Hero-Zero" gimp more than move, but all that's come before them is enough to compensate, and the title track closing the album has enough sweat and hump (including a quick, bitchin' drum solo by Brian Tichy) to call it a good day in this camp.
Whether you get the soundness of this union or come to it with a glaring question mark, Michael Sweet and George Lynch answer their own call and "Only to Rise" is a killer Hard Rock record.

Well worth checking out!

Rating - 9/10

The Players:

 

Michael Sweet (Stryper) – Vocals, Guitar
George Lynch (Lynch Mob) – Guitar
James Lomenzo (ex White Lion, Megadeth) – Bass
Brian Tichy (ex Whitesnake) – Drums