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Guitarist Forrest McDonald has returned,
with frontman Raymond Victor on vocals, and two new additions
to the band, Marc Caplan on bass/background vocals and Scott
Murphy on drums/background vocals. Marc brings with him a considerable
songwriting talent, contributing to nine of the eleven cuts,
and a set lineup more consistant in style on this album. I will
admit I miss the diversity of appeal that "On Fire"
had, but this album rocks.
The album opens with one of Forrest's patented
bridges leading into Raymond's gritty vocals on "It's Only
Love," which reminds me a of a merger of ZZ Top and The
Fabulous Thunderbirds. Raymond has the beard, guess Forrest needs
to start growing one; after all, his look changes from album
to album anyway, but not the quality of his guitar play. "Hold
On Me" has a nearly 60 second bridge that will delight his
fans.
"Through These Days" is a blues
tune that would easily fit on an Allman Brothers album. Forrest's
bridges are more restrained, and more effective for being so.
The title cut, "Under the Gun," is a pressure packed
song that reflects the tension of a gunfighter. Raymond manages
to sound controlled, yet scared at the same time, as he delivers
the vocals.
The most interesting song on the album,
penned by Marc Caplan, is "Sub Mariner," the first
time outside of the Beatles I've heard a rock song about a submarine,
but this one is not yellow by a torpedo shot. More somber and
melodramatic than most of the other cuts, it left a major impression
on me.
"Heavy Metal Fever" allows Forrest
to go off on a hard driving guitar riff that is sure to appeal
to fans, while "Terminal Rock" is a rockin' tune with
some great hooks.
The blues come back in "On and On,"
a song that suits Raymond's style to a tee. This is the strongest
cut from a vocal standpoint, with pathos and pain. Raymond reaches
inside for this one.
An anti-drug song, "Devil in White,"
is a well packaged message about the perils of "Snow White."
The next song had been sent to me earlier this summer for comment.
"Ride, Ride, Ride" is an improved version, tighter
and more focused than the original. Forrest's guitar solos are
more in keeping with the style of the song, and holds it together
between verses, rather than being a solo break.
The album closes with a song named "On
Fire," which was the title of the previous album, but not
a cut on it. It actually is a slow burn rather than a raging
inferno, a pure instrumental cut that allows the band to flex
its muscles, but trails off at the end a bit aimlessly, which
would have been a shame, except for the bonus tracks - a reprise
of "I'm Not The Waiting Kind" and "That's How
I Want Our Love," from the "On Fire," album to
give you a baker's dozen songs.
As I write here "Under The Gun"
of deadline, I can only say "draw" your own conclusion
and take a shot at this album.
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