Great band, great album, but unfortunately the wrong time.
Lou Gramm had left Foreigner in ’90 and had already released a couple of solo albums before forming Shadow King with Vivian Campbell. They are another in the long line of one record bands, as this would be the only record they put out before Campbell left for Def Leppard and Gramm would return to Foreigner.
This album sounds huge thanks to a ripping production from Keith Olsen who gave it a heavier Foreigner vibe. Most of the tracks are written by Gramm and Bruce Turgon, Campbell only gets his name on the final track Russia. Anytime Anywhere is a hands down classic and is my favourite. It’s a kick ass up tempo groove with a huge hook and chorus. This song alone should have been huge.
There are the smattering of ballads, (as you would expect) of which Don’t Even Know I’m Alive is the best. It’s the rockier tunes on the album that get my attention like I Want You with a standard rock groove, but it’s the hook and chorus that just grab you. Danger In The Dance Of Love has a killer intro and I would say is the wild card track on the record. It has a great huge guitar sound and Gramm’s voice sounds massive.
A very solid record deserving of your attention.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
