Reviews roundup – Laney’s Legions vs. Sharp Practice vs. Crown Of Glory vs. Jana Josephine

Reviews roundup – Laney’s Legions vs. Sharp Practice vs. Crown Of Glory vs. Jana Josephine

LANEY’S LEGIONS
same
Perris

It’s been a while since Chris Laney had an album out.  “Pure”, I think it was, but he’s a busy man, what with his production skills and whatnot.  But now he’s back under a band name, for some top notch eighties rock and roll.

So along with Mr Laney (Randy Piper’s Animal, Zan Clan) on vocals and rhythm guitar, there’s Rob Marcello (Danger Danger, House Of Lords) on lead guitar, Mats Vassfjord (Grand Design) on bass, and Patrik Jansson on drums.  So there are a few folk there who know their way around some quality melodic rock.

Naturally enough, bearing in mind all the bands that pay him to work on their records, it sounds great.  And the songs are up there, as well, eleven tunes that take you back to the likes of Kix, Dokken, Poison and others of that ilk. The single ‘Poptastic’ and ‘Let’s Get It On’ are top of my pop picking list, but you can drop a needle anywhere in these grooves and be guaranted a rocktastic good time.

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SHARP PRACTICE
Steal With Pride
Ryeharbour

Well, that’s an “interesting” album cover. One hopes that a tongue is lodged firmly in cheek somewhere. Or maybe UK melodic rock band Sharp Practice really do feel that you can never be too sexy.

Back in the grooves, this is studio album number four from the band, who’ve been knocking around since the nineties, and across the ten tracks they provide some resolutely old fashioned rock and roll.  Which is fine by me, as they waver between being a seventies blues rock band and an eighties melodic rock band.

Of course, bearing in mind that all the songs are written by one Nigel Clothier, and that the band pictures are him in an assortment of wigs, “band” may be pushing it a bit. And he does admit in the press release that he did that back in the day when he was trying to get a record deal.  There are some good songs here, with the likes of ‘Fine Line’ and ‘Hard Heart’ the best of the bunch.  Interesting, without being essential.

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CROWN OF GLORY
King For A Day
Soulfood

Aiiiieeee!!!  Melodic power metal!  And it’s album number two from the Swiss power metallers, and one which fans of Rhapsody Of Fire, Helloween, and will thoroughly enjoy.

See, there’s a template that melodic power metal bands need to follow.  Don’t go messing about with the formuala, because we know what we like.  Songs straight out of Lord Of The Rings with some thunderous percussion, screaming guitar solos and an utter distate for the mordant realities of life.  Thank you.  And that’s what you get here from Hene Muther (vocals), Philipp Meier (keyboards), Markus Muther (guitar), Hungi Berglas (guitar), Jonas Lüscher (bass) and Marcel Burgener (drums).

You can’t go far wrong with anthems like ‘The End Of The Line’, ‘Saviour’ and ‘The Hunter’, so strap on your air guitar and come along for the ride.

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JANA JOSEPHINA
Avalanche
Check One Two Perfect

It’s a right bummer that Lana Del Rey has went and released another record, because this single from Frankfurt born Jana Josephina, would have filled that Lana shaped hole quite nicely, with it’s epic pop meets soundtrack feel.

There aren’t many singles nowadays that hit you straight away, but this is one of them.  It’s melodic, uplifting, and has that getting off the stool feel halfway through.  Apparently, back in her Germanic homeland, Jana is an accomplished actress, which may explain her dramatic approach to music.  I could live without the remixes, but the main song is an absolute cracker.  Video somewhere below.

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