Reviews roundup – Bad Touch vs. The Dame vs. The Unity vs. Kimberley Kelly vs. Sinestress vs. Chinawhite

Reviews roundup – Bad Touch vs. The Dame vs. The Unity vs. Kimberley Kelly vs. Sinestress vs. Chinawhite

BAD TOUCH
Shake A Leg
Marshall Records

The last album, “Truth Be Told” was good but third time at the races and Bad Touch have really upped their game.

Yes, they’re still mining their seventies hard rock vibe but this time around the songs are a lot better. The first half dozen tracks here are pretty faultless, with a swagger to them that shows that the band themselves seem to know how good they’re becoming. For sure, there is a slight dip in the middle but you actually need a break after the delights of ‘Lift Your Head Up’, ‘Tussle’ and ‘Take Me Away”. It’s breathtaking stuff.

They’ve got some Molly Hatchet meets AC/DC groove going in their best numbers and the riffs from Ron Glendinning and Daniel Seekings are all straight out of the top drawer. Mind you, in 2018 I’m unsure how big a market there is outside the old farts like me and they are less convincing the couple of times they slow the pace down but if there is any justice this should be the record that gets Bad Touch up to the next division.

THE DAME
Losing Sight Of What You Want
independent

To the Netherlands now for a slightly strange combo called The Dame. And they mean business if the 16 page glossy booklet that came with the promo is anything to go by.

I say strange as their age range covers about four decades with the youngest member a mere 15 and the oldest, well, older. They’ve also gone for a progressive tinged seventies rock sound that also tinkers around the edges of the more melodramatic show tunes of Boublil, Schönberg and their ilk. So it’s certainly out of time and space. But also an engaging listen.

They certainly know how to write a good song and the vocals of Marian Van Charante add to the feeling of theatre as she seem seems to act out numbers like ‘The Last Dance’ and the title track. The rest of the band are no slouches either and for an independent release, they’ve nailed a top quality production. It’s one of those records that fans of prog and classic rock will enjoy so they really ought to take a chance on this.

THE UNITY
Rise
Steamhammer / SPV

Album number two from the Gamma Ray offshoot featuring Henjo Richter (guitar) and Michael Ehré (drums).

I enjoyed the debut although as it wasn’t that different from the parent band I wondered slightly at the point. But they’re obviously enjoying getting these songs out and quite right too. They’re good songs. It’s still straight down the middle European power metal but when it’s done well it’s an enjoyable ride.

The riffs here are probably more intensive than you would get on a GR record and tunes like ‘Last Betrayal’ certainly blow your speakers. But the real reet champion effort here is when they stretch out across the seven minutes of ‘Road To Nowhere’. It’s adventurous, stirring and ambitious. Some more like that and they could be ready for the big leagues.

KIMBERLY KELLY
Don’t Blame It On Me
independent

Folks look at the weather beaten, tattooed, hairy visage and (rightly) assume that I’m a quasi-biker metalhead. What they don’t realise is that my deid Irish mammy was, once upon a time, Secretary of the Scottish Country Music Fellowship. And that many a pre-teen Monday evening was spent at the Tuscon Country Music Club at the Berry Suite in Abbeyhill. So it seeped in and even as a youngster I had as many Marshall Tucker Band albums as I did Motorhead ones.

Granted I’d not much of a one for modern country pop but give some eighties / nineties influenced twang and I’m a happy man. Which will be why the splendid country singer, Erin Enderlin, passed my name on to Kimberly Kelly. And I’m glad she did.

Because this EP is an absolute delight. I don’t ask for much in a country song. A good voice, an engaging story, a strong melody and a steel guitar. And I’m quids in here as there isn’t a bum track amongst the five on offer. Things start off with the delightful, up beat ‘Daddy’s 8 Track’ but it’s when there is a broken heart up for grabs that Ms Kelly really shines. Tunes like ‘First Fool In Line’ really give her expressive voice room to shine. But the out and out winner for me is ‘Prayer and a Six Pack’. It may be another broken heart song but it’s one with attitude and if there was any justice in the world it would be burning up the country charts kicking all the bro-country raps into the dirt where they belong.

After two indie albums this really should be third time lucky for the delightful Ms Kelly.

SINESTRESS
Miedo
Rock CD

To Spain now for some hard rock courtesy of Madrid’s Sinestress.

The band has been around for nine years now after originally being put together by guitarist Francesco Jose Salgado and keyboardist Miki Gala. This is their third release and showcases some solid modern melodic metal meets eighties hard rock.

There are certainly some good riffs and melodies on offer and vocalist Juan Carlos Osorio has a strong set of pipes. Melodically, they seem to favour the likes of Foreigner and Journey but with much tougher guitars and riffs. Of course I have nod idea whether they’re following in their footsteps thematically as all the lyrics are in Spanish.

Best of the bunch is ‘Grito En El Silencio’ which would sound good in any language. It’s where their mix of melody and power works best but as someone who enjoys some footstompin’ music I was also taken with ‘America Latina’. Not all the songs are great, mind, so the mid section is a bit saggy but language barrier aside, it’s an enjoyable listen and the more open minded of you should definitely give it a go.

CHINAWHITE
Different
Rock Company

Another release from the men who never sleep. Yes, Peter Cox (not that one) and Phil Vincent have made another record to go with all their CranstoN / Forest Field endeavours.

Chinawhite, though, is all about the songs of Peter Cox. With all the vocals taken care of by Vincent and the drums coming from Praying Mantis man Hans in´t Zandt they’ve certainly put together a quality product. It’s mainly eighties styled melodic hard rock but they’ve also thrown in a few prog elements as well. It would be no surprise to find some mid-period Asia albums in the collection of Mr Cox.

They kick things off with one of the album highlights – ‘Kiss Of Fire’ – which is as hard rock as they get. The prog starts to arrive with ‘Hello To The World’ and from then on they mix and match as they please. When it works, it’s really enjoyable, although a couple of songs just miss. And just to reinforce the prog credentials the album closes with an eight minute instrumental. Hey! It’s my album and I’ll do what I like. A good one.

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St Columba’s Hospice Tribute Fund for Linda Hamilton
http://linda.hamilton.muchloved.com/
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