Sometimes I just crave for some good, honest, straight-forward Rock ‘n’ Roll, you know, the energetic, uncompromising neck-muscles-injuring stuff. Only very rarely I get aroused by new (or older) Hard Rock pur sang, yet once in a while a band can draw my attention with passion, pain and pleasure (oops, that rather sounds Emo / Goth / Ero). Anyway, here comes a swift, short, yet indispensable (haha) resume about a new yet savory new recording…
Well, when Mike and his Hard Life Promotion crew do think that a band, or at least a specific (new) album by that bands, deserves (and needs) some additional promotion, I am all ears. I have to admit that I did not know the Australian band Avalanche (one of the 667 bands with such a name, but that’s another discussion), but they seem to be active – and popular – for quite some time, especially in their home country down under. Which brings me to the newest album by this Australian Avalanche, pacifistically called Armed To The Teeth.
Steven and Veronica ‘V’ Campbell, together with Bon Lowe and Blake Poulton, try to give us ‘a peek in their bedroom’ (Veronica and Steve are a couple in real life) with their newest piece. I will not delve to deep into their impressive curriculum vitae, but I have to mention that they did share the stage with acts like Airborne, Nashville Pussy, Rose Tattoo or Fozzy, and they did win the Passport To Airlie competition as well.
Anyway, Armed To The Teeth is a twelve-track assault (the compact-disc edition does come with an exclusive thirteenth lullaby as bonus) that will cost you liters of sweat and spit – and a huge yet cherished headache. It brings energetic, straight-forward, yet, above all, honest and from-the-heart-and-the-soul Metal ‘n’ Roll, old styled (read: based on the truest essence of the origins) and timeless at once. The album’s tracks are hyper-kinetic pieces, coming with the usual, predictable, yet necessary elements: catchy up-tempo guitar riffs, a powerful supportive rhythm string section, thunderous drums, sort-of-screaming lead vocals, fiery solo-work, low-tuned basses, anthemic background chants, you know, those ingredients that make your plate spicy and tasty.
The tracks balance in a fine equilibrium of tradition and complexity. At the one hand, one might experience the roots of the scene; think about leather and tattoos, babes ‘n’ booze, you know. Kinetic riffs, shouting voices, fast-forward drum patterns, fingerspitzen solos, rumbling percussion, groovy bass-lines, you know the deal. But Avalanche transcend by adding, from time to time, the ‘median’ with high-technical, modestly progressive or other inventive additions from time to time. No, it’s not their aim to evolve into Post-Prog Avantgarde territories; this band just knows how to surpass the cross-sectional approach with their own-faced (and it’s a scar-covered face) additions once in a while.
I guess that I do not exaggerate if I compare this act with some cross-hybrid of, well, let’s say, Guns ‘n’ Roses, (early) Warlock, AC/DC, Exciter, Nashville Pussy, Bacon Fat, Rose Tattoo and Thundermother.
https://avalanchebandrock.bandcamp.com/album/armed-to-the-teeth
https://www.avalanchebandrock.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hardlifepromotion/