Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Metal, power rock, whatever you want to call it, rides a cycle. The last one ran from about 1984 to 1994, then kind of petered out, though the genre never really died. The genre may be gearing up for a resurgence to its former glory, however. With bands like Poison and Great White hitting the road and the recording studios, and Heart getting ready for a new release. It seems only natural, then, that a new generation should spring up alongside the old.

Robin Brock is part of that generation. Brock is a Canadian rocker; HIDDEN POWER, her second LP, is a confident statement which, treads ground already well-tread by Heart, and Rush, and 38. Special, and any dozen rockers you could name from the '70s and '80s. This is not necessarily a bad thing; one just has to be careful to infuse the necessary energy level into the project. Fortunately, this is not a problem for Brock.

Brock handles the vocal chores on HIDDEN POWER, and quite competently; what she might lack in range, she makes up for with energy and desire. She knows her limitations and works with them, as opposed to fighting against them; as a result she never sounds strained, or as if she is working at contretemps with the song or her backing musicians. That is not to say that she is a weak vocalist; what she might lack in range she more than makes up for with energy, commensurate with the genre she is working in.

The results on HIDDEN POWER are somewhat mixed until Brock hits her stride with "I Suirrender." Even though it sounds familiar, it all comes together just right, with soaring and stinging guitar solos, and Brock's voice, not distinctive but not unpleasant, either, winning out over all of it. She's also got Randy Bachmann (Guess Who, BTO) on two tracks ("I'm Doin' Fine," "Goddess"). Bachmann is in top form yet does not overshadow his hostess, thus demonstrating not only Bachmann's prowess as a sideman (and who'da thunk it?!) But also Brock's ability as a frontwoman.

Brock needs to work a little more on her material. She obviously has the ability to put a band of players behind her who know what she wants, and she has the vocal ability to kick it in gear. Some stronger songwriting, more consistent with her other abilities, will undoubtedly come with time, and with it will come the success which HIDDEN POWER seems to foretell.