How do we put as much pressure as possible on a new young band ? I know! We will say they are the next Def Leppard. And that’s exactly what Sounds and Kerrang mags were doing at the time to Heavy Pettin.
This album was the band’s second, it was released in ’85 and Leppard were huge at this time. So let’s get into em! The album opens up with the hard rock majesty of the title track. A great tune with a killer groove and chorus. Sole Survivor follows and it is a melodic rock fans wet dream. Huge hook and chorus that scores high on the sing-a-long factor. China Boy is definitely a Leppard clone track right from the groove all through the melody and the main vocal. Lost In Love is next and this has single written all over it, but for some reason it wasn’t. Missed opportunity or what!? Side 1 ends with Northwinds. If melodic NWOBHM was a genre this would be it.
Side 2 kicks off with Angel. It has a huge fat drum sound with killer stereo riffing guitars. A great song, and again it’s high on the sing-a-long factor. Heart Attack follows and starts like some eighties pop band until the switch is flicked and we are into the best track on the album. Superb tune with a killer riff and groove, and I love the hook and chorus. Their finest hour? Quite possibly.
It’s ballad time next with Dream Time and Hamie’s vocals are awesome. Walkin’ With Angels is a fun uptempo melodic groover and it’s all about the vocals and harmonies. The album closes out with Throw A Party, an AC/DC-Leppard crossover, Friday night, feel good tune.
They released another album in ’89 called Big Bang and then they were done. You feel as though the record company let them down with this album as they should have done a lot more.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
