A thoroughly enjoyable, consistent and classy debut album.
Quality Female-Fronted Rock bands are few and far between these days. Older established acts like Robin Beck, Heart and Romeo's Daughter are successes that come to mind but of the newer acts only Halestorm really fall into the pure Rock genre rather than the Operatic Metal that is flavour of the day.
Step forward Aniday, a five-piece from Holland, fronted by the charismatic Maria Catharina (more widely known in Holland as Marlies Schuitemaker following a stint on Dutch Idols some ten years ago). Add a bit of a twist with the composer of eight of the songs on offer being none other than Robby Valentine and things start getting interesting.
This selection of twelve numbers oozes quality throughout. Catharina, with a vocal style not too dissimilar from Pink in her Rockier moments, shows her class from the outset with an outstanding threesome to open of 'Can't Take No More', 'Hole In My Heart' and especially the epic 'When Loving You Is Wrong' which virtually drips in emotion from the soul of Catharina.
Mostly backed by Valentine's master tapes from a previous and now defunct project Kyssmet, you can be sure that the production is massive and ultra-melodic with some killer riffs on offer too. There's barely a let up in pace or quality throughout although perhaps the bands very best selections are all stacked towards the start of the album with things slowing towards the end.
Maybe the Schuitemaker penned 'Not Much of A Man' and the eclectic 'Get Funky' would be better off separated in the running order but personal taste on the playlist can always change this. They also manage to save one of the best until last with the excellent 'Lost The Way' bringing the end to a thoroughly enjoyable, consistent and classy debut album.
If Female-Fronted Rock is your thing and you haven't yet come across Aniday you definitely want to be checking this one out.
Neil French
Subscribe to this comment's feed
