Receives the desired 80s seal of approval.

This is the second album from Russian band Reds' Cool. If you want a slice of 80s heavy rock that is a mixture of Whitesnake, Dokken and Lynch Mob then this band from St. Petersburg do a pretty good job of conjuring up that era for you. They've had numerous singers and Roman who sings here does a decent job as his vocals carry the tunes and aren't too accented (although he has since left the band). However, it is when Iliga and Sergei's guitars take centre stage that this album really comes alive. It's not that the playing is particularly innovative but the riffs are catchy and rhythm is used well to give this kind of music the necessary bump 'n' grind needed to hit the g-spot. The playing has enough melody, flair and general fluidity to lift the songs.

'Bite' is very Whitesnake circa 1987 as is the ballad 'Love And Pain'. 'Confession' and 'Upside Down' are melodic rock tunes with memorable pop metal hooks. 'You Must Go' strays from the formula, it's lightly jazzy and has almost more of a Westcoast AOR vibe. The band, who I interviewed recently, said they were most proud of the title track and you can see why. It's possibly their strongest track, played with conviction and one that should go down well live. They've got gigs lined up with Black Star Riders in Europe and they are a good band to have in the support slot. Their heavy rock has enough musicianship and instant hooks to have general appeal and reach out to the neutral fan in the audience who has never heard them before but not so dizzying that they will steal the thunder from the headliners.

Michael Wagener produced the disc with the professionalism you'd expect from a man who has the likes of Mötley Crüe, Accept, Dokken and a host of other great metal acts on his CV, giving this disc the desired 80s seal of approval.

Duncan Jamieson