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DataReleased May 2011Format CD Type Studio Genre Glam Rock N of discs 1 Edition date May 2011 Label Frontiers Records ReviewREVIEWER: RAYMOND "EVERYBODY LOVES RAY" COONEN
As a lover of melodic rock music I was pleased to hear that Frontiers Records did it again… after signing big, big, BIG names in the past as Extreme, Mr. Big, Whitesnake, Ratt, Winger, Harem Scarem, Danger Danger and Giant they blew new life into another phenomenon of the melodic hard rock world… Warrant!!
Glam rock band Warrant was one of the last bands who experienced that the sky was the limit in the late eighties and early nineties in a hard rock music loving world. Their debut album 'Dirty Rotten Fifty Rich' sold over two million copies in the US alone and went to number ten in the U.S album charts thanks to hit singles as 'Down Boys' (#27), 'Sometimes She Cries' (#20), 'Heaven' (#2) and 'Big Talk'(#93). But the world will always remember Warrant thanks rock anthem 'Cherry Pie' and of course its video. The album 'Cherry Pie' sold even more than its predecessor. MTV loved Warrant and put their clips on the heavy rotation.
With the arrival of grunge in the early 90's Warrant turned to a harder edged sound and released their third album 'Dog Eat Dog'. The album also went gold and the band snared a European touring slot playing a number of shows on the "Monsters Of Rock" tour, headlined by Iron Maiden. Warrant released to this day seven studio albums and sold over ten millions worldwide.
So now the review of the 8th studioalbum. One things that immediately strikes me if you listening to 'Rockaholic' is the missing of ex-vocalist Jani Lane.
Warrant original members, Erik Turner, Jerry Dixon, Joey Allen and Steven Sweet tried to get Lane once more on board. The band put this message on the Warrant website:
“It is with the deepest regret that we have to announce that Jani Lane will no longer be performing with Warrant. From the beginning of our reunion talks to the last note of our last show together in Houston this past weekend (on August 31 at the Rock the Bayou festival), we have had nothing but good intentions of bringing a quality original Warrant show to our fans and friends. We wish Jani nothing but the best and remain friends. We are very excited that we have found an unbelievable voice in Robert Mason (Lynch Mob). We have three dates confirmed, come out and judge for yourself… We don't think you will be disappointed''.
Well, with that in mind and giving Robert Manson a try I started to listen to the album. What starts strong with pure rock ‘n’ roll songs like 'Sex Ain’t Love', 'Innocence Gone' (great guitar solo in this one) and 'Dusty’s Revenge'. On 'Snake' I hear for the first time the older Warrant sound. One of Warrant’s big selling points in the eighties where the power ballads and with 'Home' they fulfill that task… 'Home' is a beautiful ballad with a suburb melody… It could be a song what easily could confused with a composition of Jon Bon Jovi. The best song of 'Rockaholic' in my opinion. Robert Manson sounds sometimes a little bit like Jon if you ask me. The other ballad is 'Found Forever'… I think and I know that 'Home' wins the ballad battle. The comparison to Bon Jovi can also be made with the song 'What Love Can Do', 'Life’s A Song' and 'Tears In The City'.
After this easy listening middle chapter Warrant rocks again with 'The Show Must Go On' (no, not the Queen song), the David Lee Roth sounding 'Cocaine Freight Train' (the weakest song on 'Rockaholic') and 'Candy Man' (…talking about Roth!!!). Warrant sounds like Warrant on 'Sunshine' and the last and fourteenth song on the album The Last Straw.
The voice of Robert Mason may not sound like Jani Lane but I remarkable easily got used to Manson’s voice. A very good choice… A better choice than Giant did with Terry Brock but that aside.
Also thanks to the expertise of mega-producer Keith Olsen (Whitesnake, Scorpions, Night Ranger, Dare) and mixer Pat Regan (Deep Purple, KISS, Ted Nugent) Warrant delivered a fresh blast of Hard Rock on their brand new album “Rockaholic”...
LINE UP:
Erik Turner : Guitar
Jerry Dixon : Bass
Joey Allen : Guitar
Steven Sweet : Drums
Robert Mason : Vocals
Produced by Keith Olsen
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