Power Crazy is the band's third full length album courtesy of Frontiers Music. There are 12 rather immaculate rock and roll tracks that tap into the primordial ooze that got Angus and Malcolm a record deal 40 something years ago. And if you are thinking there is a downside to this, well I can't think of one. The album title and cover will immediately make you think of Powerage by their Australian proteges, but okay, so what? Wait 'til you hear this stuff.
"Let's Get Dirty" gets the party starting with a rebellious call to the dirty "way of the world" living. Why this isn't all over rock radio everywhere is a criminal offense. "Rising Power" continues the high voltage tirade but the tempo is even faster. There is a touch of vintage punk rock rebellion here. "On The Money" is slightly bluesier and a bit more contained but still rocks. Guitars are managed by both Tagore and Tao Grey, which also reminds me of that other band who used to do it this way before poor Malcolm left this mortal coil.
The rhythm section is manned by Dhani Mansworth (drums) and Rick Newman (bass). These two guys keep the train running at full steam. The Treatment designs every riff to be rock and roll friendly. "Bite Back" is another radio ready call to controlled chaos. Lead Vocalist Tom Rampton is a slightly more polite version of Bon Scott. He handles his role like Rocky Balboa's replacement. "Luck of The Draw" and "Waiting For The Call" are both more slower burning blues-rock anthems align a bit more with the British rock tradition. Whereas "Hang Them High" and "Scar With Her Name" are crisp hard rockers that mix AC/DC and a small dose of Cheap Trick and Aerosmith.
"King of The City" almost needs the chorus of "Oy!" at the beginning. Once the song leaves the station it's a freight train. "Lay It Down" has a rock, then pause intro that hints at "Whole Lotta Rosie". And even though there is a ton of AC/DC in this music, there is also a modest funky, punky undercurrent to all of it. "The Fighting Song" sounds like another radio gem. A great intro, followed by some tasty power chords and great vocals by Tom and crew. "Falling Down" is song 12 and it is far less derivative than the others. I can hear the Beatles and Cheap Trick in a few of the hook lines but with a harder rocking style. Again, no down side to see or hear here!
The crazy thing about Power Crazy is that few people have ever heard it. It was here in 2019 and then it retreated back to the internet for music junkies like myself to unearth. If you enjoy no frills hard rock with a serious nod to AC/DC, this is your ticket to ride.
Album rating 9.8
I much prefer these dudes to groups like Airbourne, who perhaps tread a little more shamelessly on the derivative-end of obsessive AC/DC fandom/ duplication! Love that the vocals are 'slightly' more melodic than many such acts currently operating along the lines, although their track "Rising Power" is somewhat restrained compared to the similarly-named AC/DC track off of 1983' vastly-underrated "Flick Of The Switch"
ReplyDeleteplatter. As far as I'm concerned, Australia's Kings Of The Sun were
undoubtedly near the top of the list of bands rocking out alongside
similar lines, especially their first two albums from '88 and '90, and
the tracks "Serpentine" and "Drop The Gun". Sadly both are now long-forgotten... And one more thing, the drummer's father was the guitarist
in the early NWOBHM band More, and subsequently manned the axe for a band called Airrace, whose debut album in '84 was produced by the almighty Beau Hill and featured a very young Jason Bonham behind the kit.
Airrace released a fine come back album a couple of years ago sans Jason. Very melodic - was one of my faves from 2018. Nobody here in the states knew about it. And yes Beau Hill was very mighty as a producer back in the day.
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