Stormzone are another rock/AOR act doing the retro thing. Instead of pinpointing the saccharine sounds of mid 80s sticky sweet key candy, they are targeting a different niche. This is a deja vu back to the sounds before the synthesizers blew up all over the songs and the production was raw and not the slick over polished sound that helped define later music from the decade. This is hard rock performed in a simpler but warm and familiar style. It's not often heard like this anymore since the fad died out shortly after the 70s came to a close. So what you get is eleven tracks that seem to have had the dust beaten off of them for a 2000 revival. Its all in that Deep Purple/Whitesnake "Slide It In" and prior/Rainbow-ish sound with a tiny dose of 80s
Praying Mantis and early
Magnum for good measure. You would swear this was a long lost British act recently swept clean from the ashes, even though the blokes hail from Northern Ireland (Belfast) and it is in fact a new work for the most part.
Harv Harbinson has a great voice for this sort of thing, he sounds much like the singer from Lion and handles the material with professionalism and ease. About half of the songs are lifted from his solo album from awhile back too. They did not get much airplay the first time so the better cuts are offered a chance at a second life. Guitars are plentiful with a biting retro tone from Keith Harris. Even the artwork evokes feelings of the been-there done-that fashion. It's handled by Rodney Matthews (
Magnum, Lande/Allen) and is a nice match for the music. Yet something seems missing. The songs are perhaps too reminiscent of a faded sound but not so much that it seems ripped from particular past releases. Its all fairly by-the-numbers stuff, skirting around the above average mark and settling itself quite comfortably there.
None of the songs in the lineup are terrible, but notability varies, with only a handful having the longevity to go the distance.
There are some nice tracks on hand like the whirly rocker
"Tuggin At My Heartstrings" which has powerhouse vocals and a guitar that whisks in like a gale force wind.
"Crying in the Rain" is another harmony laden piece in that British rock style. Maybe a little Brighton Rock in the formula's juice there?
"New World" deploys the hammond like a weapon of mass destruction. Its the focal point for this uptempo cranker.
"Nervous Breakdown" continues in this vein, coloured in Deep shades of Purple.
"Hold On to Her Love" is unmistakably 70s rock with its classic twist and nostalgic punch.
Unfortunately the majority of the material doesn't brave enough new ground to warrant extensive future revisitings. Most listeners would be just as happy dragging out their LPs and listening to the real music from that era instead of this recreation, even though it is an excellent copy for that particular sound. There's something nifty cool about having more new music from this niche though that gives it a real standout factor. With so many bands content to mine the other gems from the era, its a treat to see this get a more than just competent revival that is truly entertaining on a cozy nostalgic level.
If you are itching for something old that's in actuality something new that will give you the warm rock-your-slippersocks off fuzzies then this will fit the bill. It's not very original or grabbing, but as an overall package delivers all the nuances you would hope for. Those that are looking for their boundaries to be pushed and stretched a little more might want to give
Stormzone a pass. However its hard to fault and hate such an enjoyable time machine trip to a place that's rarely visited, and recommended as such.
"Caught in the Act" is a stroll down memory lane. Enjoyable in the here and now but fondly looked back on as much as the discs it proudly pays tribute to? Only time will tell.
Written by
Alanna Monday, February 19, 2007
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