Power of Metal.dk Review

Rated X
Rated X
Rating
Style: Hard Rock
Release date: 7 November, 2014
Playing time: 61:05
 


Ok..Ok.....another Super group with old, grey and tired rock stars was my first thought when I read about'Rated X. But, I was wrong, very wrong!

The eternally young (63 year old) and leaf thin super vocalist Joe Lynn Turner is one of my oldest favourite singers with an history in Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sunstorm and of course on his own. Joe Lynn Turner sang in the band Fandango in the end of the 70's and he got most famous when he replaced Graham Bonnet in Rainbow in 1980. Since that day he has been one of the strongest hard rock voices in the genre. Carmine Appice (born 1946) is the other big name in the line-up. Carmine has played with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Paul Stanley, King Kobra, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, etc. (Most people also know that he is the brother of heavy metal drummer Vinny Appice, who has played with, among others Dio and Black Sabbath).

These two giants have the maximum level of rock n roll experience and the right feeling for groovy uncluttered old-fashioned hard rock. Karl Cochran on guitar (Ace Frehley) and the bass player Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, Whitesnake) ain't a bad backup. They give us twelve great tracks with Rainbow, Deep Purple and Whitesnake vibes. Timeless hard rock with melodic melodies and strong vocal performance from the big little man. I heard him live some years ago and Joe couldn't take the highest tones that night, so I was worried how this would sound. OK, in a studio you can make some magic and smoothen some scars, but these songs are written for his voice tone as it sounds now and it sounds good actually.

The opening track 'Get Back My Crown' is a killer song in good old Rainbow style. 'This Is Who I Am' is next 'slap in the face' track from Rated X with bluesy and groovy sound. The slower song 'Fire and Ice' has much taste from Deep Purple. 'I Don't Cry No More' is also a down tempo song with big brush strokes of Rainbow. The longest song is the epic track 'Lhasa' with smoke-rings from 70's hard rock. 'Lhasa' is one of my favourite song with awesome guitars by Cochran and hefty drumming from Appice. The mid tracks 'Devil in Disguise', 'You Are The Music' and 'Peace Of Mind' isn't any filler material on the album. Nope, overwhelmingly strong tracks with a Turner in top shape. 'On the Way to Paradise' is a straight forward hard rock tune with fat Hammond sounds. The lush ballad 'Our Love Is Not Over' is a nice love song and holds some fine guitar candy parts.

The album closes with the stiff track 'Stranger In Us All' and I'm impressed of their work on this disc. These guys are of retirement age and could both be parents and grandparents to most of us. I love that they have the energy to continue to deliver high-quality hard rock that is also fresh and modern. I sincerely hope that they are going out on tour this summer so I get to see these talented rock n roll dinosaurs again.

Line up:
Carmine Appice - Drums
Joe Lynn Turner - Vocals
Tony Franklin - Bass
Karl Cochran - Guitar


Tracklist
01. Get Back My Crown
02.
This Is Who I Am
03.
Fire And Ice
04.
I Don't Cry No More
05.
Lhasa
06.
Devil In Disguise
07.
You Are The Music
08.
Peace Of Mind
09.
Maybe Tonight
10.
On The Way To Paradise
11. Our Love Is Not Over
12.
Stranger In Us All
Label: Frontiers Records
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Artwork rating: 79/100
Reviewed by: Patrik Skoglund
Date: 1 November, 2014
Website: www.facebook.com/RatedXRocks