KILLER – Monsters Of Rock (CD)

Killer is a Belgian trio that harks back to the 80s and killer albums like Ready For Hell, Shockwaves and Wall of Sound. They were sort of a Motörhead with slightly cleaner vocals. Well, guitarist/singer Paul “Shorty” Van Camp still keeps the flame alight. Their early albums were released on the notorious Mausoleum label, and so is the new album. This killer is back to the scene of the crime. Well, that goes for the music as well. Not much has happened here, and I tell you, that’s a good thing! Shorty sounds as good as ever, the songs are pounding and the sound is classic balls to the wall metal. Kicking off with the title track and No Exception To The Rule they prove there’s not much water that have passed under these bridges. Powerful, straight ahead, no frills, kick in the nut metal! Shotgun Symphony starts off as a heavy, detuned and doomy riffster, but picks up pace after the intro and moves into classic stomping Judas Priest British Steel territory. Good nostalgia tickling stuff, indeed!

Janne Stark

Country: Belgium

Year: 2015

Label: Mausoleum

SPIDERS – Flash Point (CD)

Spiders play rock & roll, and they do it well. Ever since their first 10” MLP they have proved they know how to take the influences from the late sixties/early seventies and turn them into good times modern retro hard rock. Hang Man reminded me a bit of vintage Motörhead in the intro riffing, while Love Me draws more on early Who type energetic rock. Singer Ann-Sofi Hoyles helps give the band their own sound, but also makes me think of Amercan garagy rockers Suffrajet, which ain’t no bad thing in my book. I also find some resemblances with Graveyard, especially on the new Lights Out album. Spiders write good catchy tunes as well. Flash Point also has been given a nice crunchy, yet dynamic mix, making this a nice package. It may not be a hundred percent up my alley, as I’m more into the heavy riffing stuff, but Spiders do what they do very well, and it’s an album I will be popping into the player every now and then. Good songs, great drive and a great tight band!
Janne Stark
Year: 2012
Country: Sweden
Label: Crusher Records 

DEVILICIOUS – The Esoteric Playground (CDdigi)

Bearded rockers Devilicious made their debut not that long ago, and now follow it up with yet another slab of raunchy, diesel infused heavy rock. I liked the debut and the follow-up does not disappoint me. This one feels a bit more rock ‘n roll and a bit looser. The band reminds me quite a bit of Volbeat with a touch of Hellacopters and Motörhead in a threesome with Mustasch. Mikael Jacobsson has quite a personal voice which fits the style perfectly, but it may not be for each and every one. Just like Volbeat, it sounds like Elvis has been an inspiration, especially in a song like Red Heat In Bed. Good and solid production!
Janne Stark
Label: Rambo
Country: Sweden
Year: 2012
Link: www.devilicious.se

FASTWAY - Eat Dog Eat (CD)

Ok, I will confess I haven’t really listened to Fastway since the first, outstanding, album was released. After that I thought they went too commercial and I lost interest. Now Fast Eddie Clarke has returned with a vengeance. Eat Dog Eat really takes us back to the classic back to basic hard rock resting on the traditional British bluesy foundation. Toby Jepson sings his ass off and I truly love his vocals. The album kicks off with Deliver Me, which almost makes me think of what would happen if Led Zeppelin and AC/DC had a baby. It’s a very consistent, but still varied ten track collection, incorporating some good old boogie based hard rockers like Leave The Light On, cool acoustic balladry in Dead And Gone and tons of classic hard rock. Great production, great songs, and all in all one album I didn’t know I had been missing until I heard it. It isn’t original, it has no bells or whistles, but it’s a damn fine album, on I will probably wear out.
Janne Stark
Label: Steamhammer
Year: 2011