ENUFF Z'NUFF - Covered In Gold (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Glam / Sleaze

Label - 

Track listing:

01. Everything Works If You Let It (CHEAP TRICK cover)

02. Stone Cold Crazy (QUEEN cover)

03. She Sells Sanctuary (THE CULT cover)

04. All Apologies (NIRVANA cover)

05. Believe It Or Not (The Greatest American Hero theme)

06. The Jean Genie (DAVID BOWIE cover)

07. Run For Your Life (THE BEATLES cover)

08. When Doves Cry (PRINCE cover)

09. Tears Of A Clown (SMOKEY ROBINSON cover)

10. The Stroke (BILLY SQUIER cover)

11. Yankee Rose (DAVID LEE ROTH cover)

12. Jealous Guy (JOHN LENNON cover)

13. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away (live at 'Howard Stern Show')

14. New Thing (live unplugged in London) (Bonus Track)

### Not My Review. All Credit To The Original Author. ###

Celebrating their 30 years as one of the hardest-working bands in show business, ENUFF Z'NUFF are releasing their new album "Covered In Gold".

As you could imagine, the 13th studio creation from this long-running, peace-hair metal band fronted by Donnie Vie & Chip Znuff, is a a heartfelt salute to the music and artists who have inspired them over the course of their three-decade career.

Produced by Donnie & Chip with a really melodic direction, in "Covered In Gold" the listeners are treated to 13 cover songs, ranging from a loose reading of Nirvana's "All Apologies" to a raging hair metal sendup of Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown", with Enuff Z'nuff sounding like 1989!

I also loved their take on David Lee Roth's hit "Yankee Rose" and a rocking version of Queen's classic "Stone Cold Crazy". The band also tackles tunes by The Cult, Billy Squier, The Beatles (of course), and a host of other widely divergent artists, including Prince!

For good measure, the band throws in a live, unplugged version of one of their best-known hits, 1989's "New Thing", recorded in London.

Although not presenting own new material, "Covered In Gold" is a really good ENUFF Z'NUFF record showing that the band is alive & kicking, and in great form.

It's a great showcase of this group's incredibly diverse yet supremely melodic sensibility, with catchy arrangements and fluid playing.

Quite Recommended.

Rating - 8/10

TIGERTAILZ - Knives (2013)

Genre - Hard Rock / Galm Rock
Label -

Track listing:
01 - Shoe Collector
02 - One Life
03 - Bite The Hand
04 - Spit It Out
05 - Punched In The Gutz

Remembered lovingly for Bezerk, their 1990 chart buster, UK mighty Glam titans TIGERTAILZ unfortunately failed to maintain the momentum and didn’t see out the Millenium in glory. But their hairspray has been on again since 2005 and now the quartet bang with the fresh 5-track EP "Knives".
A real cult band with incessant turmoils throughout their career, a lot of line-up changes, wrong management decisions and even some dramatic moments (R.I.P. Pepsi Tate), 2013 sees Tigertailz returning in great form. In fact, despite presenting only five tracks, "Knives" includes the band's best material since that 1990 influential (for many acts worldwide) album. Original guitarist Jay Pepper is joined by Rob Wylde on bass, Matt Blakout on drums and new singer Jules Millis, from Australian AORsters White Widdow. Millis brings a breathe of melodic bliss to this new Tigertailz, and his tuneful vocals are in grand part responsible for the 'musicality' of this material. Pepper's melting riffs and killer solos never sounded better (he is a truly great axe-slinger), Wylde provides not only pumping bass lines but also skilful songwriting, while Blakout lays down some top notch beats throughout the five tracks but nowhere more spectacularly than on the Wylde-penned "Bite The Hand". This is a killer song with that eruptive dose of metal which has always been a key ingredient for the Tailz heavy duty glam sound and this one ticks all the boxes; dirty riffs and squealing solos, smashing rhythm section and Jules Millis rules the catchy, sing-a-long chorus.
"Shoe Collector" sock's it nicely to the glitterati schlock with an a cappella start and an arena swing, "Spit It Out" has a sick melodic rock punch, crazy riffage and backing vocals galore, while the bruising bastardized grooves of "Punched In The Gutz" echoes the twisted fury of the 'Wazbones' days. The EP includes a ballad, yes, a ballad among these on-fire rockin' numbers, and a good one. "One Life" merge catch melodic rock with acoustic guitar and synths in a reminiscent Skid Row style giving Millis a chance to show how good (and melodious) he is as the tune builds bridges of powerful harmonies between each soul searching verse. "Knives" is a killer 5-track EP from this refreshed Tigertailz, and leaves you hungry for more. Jay Pepper and the guys prove here they can still teach a thing or two to a lot of actual Sleaze Metal 'wonders', showing how to write a good sing-along chorus with a tasty dose of extremely infectious, nasty & sleazy backing vocals. Don't be fooled if 'sleaze' is a bad word in your musical tastes; "Knives" combines the catchiness of the genre without sounding silly, it adds a strong, healthy dose of Melodic Rock to it and a polished hard edge rounding an impressive - sadly too short - set of songs. Think Skid Row circa Slave To The Grind meets Shotgun Messiah's awesome debut and you get the picture. "Knives" sees Tigertailz rise up back into the premier league of glammy melodic hard rock where they belong. We need a full length album right away.

Rating - 9/10

Sweet - The Answer (2013)

Genre - Hard Rock / Pop / Glam
Label - Angel Air Records

Track listing:
01 Do As I Say
02 X-Ray Specs
03 Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again
04 Stand Up
05 Nouveau Rock Star
06 Natural
07 Mind
08 Marshall Stack
09 Red Tape
10 When Friends Fall Out
11 Is It True
12 Dangerous Game
13 I Don’t Want To Say Goodnight
14 Crudely Mott

BONUS TRACKS
15 Marshall Stack (Alt Ending)
16 Do As I Say (Single Mix)
17 Stand Up (Hard Rock Version)

"SWEET are forever associated with that tremendous run of worldwide hit singles in the 70’s (no less than 13 UK Top 20 hit singles) but their popularity remains as they tour all over Europe where they still to this day enjoy headline status at festivals. The Answer was recorded in 1992 in Hanover, GERMANY and showcases how tight a rock band the group had become. This album has long been out of print with copies currently changing hands at over a £100 a copy. Now remastered with three bonus tracks"

On November 4th (2013) Angel Air Records re-release The Answer, by Andy Scott's Sweet, fully remastered and including 3 bonus tracks (as stated above) but is the album any good? Well the answer is a resounding yes! The Answer, and this lineup of the seventies glam rock legends may have never reached the same levels of commercial success as the groups releases from the seventies heyday, but it is still a very strong release indeed with songs such as X-Ray Specs, Nouveau Rock Star, Natural, Marshall Stack and I Don't Want To Say Goodnight proving that Andy Scott had lost non of his song writing magic.
The remastering brings the songs to life, allowing them to breath and really shine, giving them an almost contemporary edge, although one or two tracks haven't aged as well as others, such as album opener Do As I Say, which has a slightly tired and dated feel to it.
This release comes complete with extensive linear sleeve notes to help fill in the gaps making this a great little album ta boot.
This album is a must have for fans of Sweet (and Andy Scott of course!) but is also a worthy place to start for fans that are just a little curious as to what happened to the Hellraiser's after the seventies Ballroom Blitz!

Rating - 9/10

The Darkness - Hot Cakes (2012)

Genre - Hard Rock / Glam Rock Label -

Track listing -

01. Every Inch Of You
02. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us
03. With A Woman'
04. Keep Me Hangin' On
05. Livin’ Every Day Blind
06. Everybody Have A Good Time
07. She Just A Girl Eddie
08. Forbidden Love
09. Concrete
10. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
11. Love Is Not The Answer
12. I Can't Believe It's Not Love (Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track)
13. Love Is Not The Answer (Acoustic Demo) (Bonus Track)
14. Pat Pong Ladies (Demo Mix) (Bonus Track)
15. Cannonball (feat. Ian Anderson) (Long Version) (Bonus Track)

After initially splitting in 2006 after their excellent second album, Ticket to Hell, to go and form two excellent bands, Justin with his Hot Leg and the other guys with the mighty Stone Gods, the guys decided to reform the band back in 2011 and low and behold here they are with their third studio album.
If you are reading this then you should know what The Darkness are all about musically, Justin's unique vocal style, Dan amazing guitar work, and great songs with at times quirky lyrics.
So how does this new album stand up when compared to its predecessors? Quite well to be honest, granted there may not be many instant classics here, but it does show the guys stretching themselves as songwritters a little more than they have done in the past, which can only be a good thing. If you are already a fan of the band then you are not going to dissappointed with Hot Cakes, if you're not, then this album maybe a littlre more accessable than the previous two as i find Justin to be a little more restrained on here.
Standout tracks for me include, Street Spirit, Forbidden Love, Livin' Every Day Blind, Cannonball, and the semi autobiographical Every Inch Of You.

A welcome return guys, yet I'm still hoping that the already recorded but unreleased second Stone Gods album will eventually see the light of day.

Rating - 9/10
website - http://www.theactualdarkness.com/