This is the band’s first album as Bonfire released back in ’86. Recorded at Dieter Dierks’ studio (as were a lot of Scorpions albums) – vocalist, Claus Lessman, does sound like Klaus Meine at times. It has a pretty standard mid-eighties hard rockin’ sound with a decent production, although the snare drum sound is very annoying at times. The band didn’t do a whole bunch in the UK, but in mainland Europe they were huge, and towards the end of the eighties they had some success in the US.
I’m a sucker for big overblown intro’s, and that’s what the band deliver here before kickin’ into Starring Eyes, which is a straightforward rocker. Hot To Rock is the best track on the album – a nice uptempo rocker with a great sing a long chorus. You Make Me Feel is a typical euro ballad – a la Winds Of Change. Side 1 closes out with Longin’ For You – with its riff heavy groove, it’s almost NWOBHM in feel.
The title track opens up Side 2 and it is a mid-tempo plodder with a simple riff, and a very melodic chorus that almost sounds as though it belongs to a different song. SDI follows and is quite slow with a chugga riff – it’s quite basic in its make up. No More is next up and is a straight up fat riff groover with a nice melodic chorus. The album closes out with L.A, and I guess it’s the band’s homage to their favourite city. Sure, it’s quite cheesy, but it’s a a great fun track.
Not the best album by the band, but it’s cool to go back and see how it all came together.
7.5/10 from The Grooveman.
