01 - Cruel Britannia 02 - Love The Way You Hate 03 - Going Down 04 - Copperhead Road
"Cruel Britannia" delivers four tracks; 2 originals, 1 cover version & 1 re-recording. The cover of 'Copperhead Road' (originally recorded by Steve Earle) has been a Knock Out Kaine live show fan favourite for many years now, so to finally have a studio recording is great especially as the band give their own spin on this bluesy rocker. Originally released back in 2012 on their debut album House Of Sins, the re-recorded version of 'Going Down' is a very good choice. The original was really good but this version is better still! The band are on fine form and sounds like they had a bloody fantastic time recording it.
Then we have the new 2016 songs. Track 1 'Cruel Britannia' shows Knock Out Kaine's more serious side. Probably about as political as this band could ever get. Full of satire and cutting social commentary that basically sums up the feeling of the United Kingdom & the current government as it stands. Musically kicks with a vintage hard rock swagger. 'Love The Way You Hate' was originally composed for the band's second album. It never made into the final track list, and I'm glad the band now properly recorded it. It's a catchy melodic rocker with lots of harmony vocals and an infectious riff.
Knock Out Kaine come out of the traps snarling with attitude on the full throttle opener "16 Grams Of Heart Attack" This is no holds barred, tumultuous hard rock at it’s best. "Fire And Smoke" bears all the hallmarks of a Skid Row in their pomp. Brash guitars, dangerous vocals with voracious power.
"How Would I Know" shows that this band isn't all about savage mayhem. Everything about this track exudes a real song writing intelligence. The chorus is instantly likeable with it's feel good '80s hook.
On the surface, the guitar work that weaves its way throughout the album is classic KOK, but the discerning listener will pick out the extra melodic layers entwined within the classic hard rocking riffs that are Jimmy Bohemian's home turf.
Balanced against the lead and rhythm guitar from Jimmy, the bass from Lee Byrne adds breadth to the songs without seeming making any effort to be noticed. Countered perfectly by the more intricate yet still powerful percussion backdrop provided by Danny Crash, and we have all the ingredients which make up the recipe for a high class hard rockin' album.
Like any good chef vocalist Dean Foxx takes all the ingredients present, and with the addition of his sometimes relentless, sometimes nimble vocals meshes it all together to create a dish that is arguably greater than the sum of its parts.
The bluesy strut of "Diamond Blue" makes way for a funk licked "Cascading", with Bohemian’s audacious riff giving this tune balls of steel. It’s another vocal hard rock master-class on "Ain't Your Kind". Foxx is clearly a man with an impressive range, so much so you’d be forgiven for thinking he gargles with razor blades, such is the distinct rawness in his voice. And one listen to this jewel of a track and your hooked.
If the complete lunacy and eccentricity of "Boxes" doesn’t afford you a smile or a uncomfortable chuckle, be very worried. This madcap orgy of unconventional hard rock is irresistible start to finish.
The guys regain their sanity with a hefty dollop of acoustics on "Flying Blind", a song that should seduce the airwaves with little difficulty.
"Because You Were There" is an able and solid ballad, with neat and tidy verses followed by a cautiously safe chorus. But in truth, it doesn't quite reach the heights of the previous tracks. Which I suppose is a backhanded compliment due to the quality of the writing on this album.
Final track "One More For The Road" throws out more versatility from a band with many tools in their locker. A slick and arrogant groove that unearths an American vibe closes the album in style.
Take the passion and talent that catapulted Knock Out Kaine into the Rock music scene, give it a few years on the road to mature, add some seriously smooth production skills, and you are left with the polished second album that is "Rise of the Electric Jester".
There is enough classic KOK here to satisfy the existing fans, while adding enough variety to introduce new audiences to their music. All underpinned by the fact that Knock Out Kaine are clearly writing the songs they love and playing the music they want to play, and you have a band to keep a close eye on over the coming years.
If there's any justice left in this fickle music world of ours, 2015 should be a rip roaring year for Knock Out Kaine. This band's music brings more weight to my belief that a second coming of the true Rock domination we enjoyed in the '80s is imminent. Highly Recommended.
