This album sees the return of original vocalist, Kenny Leckremo after the departure of Eric Gronwall to Skid Row. I don’t really see the logic in that decision as Skid Row are just a legacy band just treading water, whereas H.E.A.T just keep on releasing really great rock records and their popularity keeps rising.
Ripping opening tune with Back To The Rhythm. It has a killer riff and groove, and a great hook with some epic guitar. Nationwide follows and the pace is increased somewhat with a monster riff and groove; man what a production. Tainted Blood opens up with a fat riff that I’ve heard before somewhere but it didn’t sound this good. Leckremo’s vocals do remind me of Joey Tempest on this track, and the drums just sound huge. Superb solo by the way! Really cool intro to Hollywood. The groove has that LA sleaze feel to it, and as usual a monster hook and chorus. Harder To Breathe closes out Side 1 with what sounds like an old Accept riff at the intro, but it builds into a really great melodic rock song with huge harmonies.
Side 2 opens up with Not For Sale and it’s more of the same, huge riff, massive groove, and killer hook and chorus. They make it look so easy, every song has a great melody and they that sing-a-long hands-in-the-air thing down to a T. It’s power ballad time next with One Of Us, and you’ll know by now I’m not a fan of said ballads but this does sound bigger than a big thing on a big train to big town. A trip to funky town is up next with Hold Your Fire, and I really like that Blackmore style riff at the intro that leads into huge funk rock groove. Paramount starts with a Styx style pomp keyboard intro and is very Eurovision in its style.
I could pick any number of these as my favourite track, but today it’s Demon Eyes. The fastest and heaviest track on the album and again I’m getting the Blackmore vibe for the main riff. Killer tune. The album closes out with Wings Of An Aeroplane and it’s fitting that we finish on a huge anthemic track with the hands-in-the-air vibe. I’ll go out on a limb here and say it’s their best album and one that you should acquire at your earliest convenience.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
