All right boys and girls this is my first review of The Angels Band, no-one infact has previously added this band considering there is alot of Aussis patrolling this site. This is a review on their 1991 album Red Back Fever and what an album it is! My mate and I always say that the best year of rock was 1991 with the release of huge albums such as Pearl Jam's Ten, Metallica's Black and Nevermind and anything that comes from that year is usually worth listening to, this record is no exception...anyways lets do this track by track.
1.Tear Me Apart [5:15] - These guys waste no time getting you into a rockin' mood, great opening riff that continues through most of the song, the chorus vocals are all harmonized by the rest of the band with good effect as they wail "YOU CAN TEAR ME APART, IN SLOW MOTION.." , just after two minutes a fairly tame solo is injected into the song which eventually blends down into the chorus again. The best part of this song soon follows with a break down with the bass and drums doing most of the work on the first riff bringing once again the chorus, which fades out with a solo over the top. Great start to the album! 4/5
2.Some of that Love [3:50] - Probably my least favourite song on the album with really only two riffs, which aren't bad but doesn't give the song enough to be really great, lyrics are so so, nice solo though I like the distortion chosen on it :) 3/5
3.Once Bitten Twice Shy [4:38] - The first of the two covers on the record..yes there are two covers but these guys have had numerous albums before this one and doesn't every band do covers eventually? Originally done by Ian Hunter this has got to be up there as one of the best covers out, they really did a good job with tones, and the piano added really works well. 4/5
4.Child in you [3:27] - This song is the most AC/DCish on the record and stinks of heavy riffs and a catchy melodies, most will enjoy this song straight off the bat. Probably one of my favourite solos from the album, short but sweet wahwah section followed by a good epic harmony lead break.
Great song all round very much a 'single' in the way its structure is set.
3.5/5
5.Lyin' Awake in Bed [5:40] - Ominous sounding start with delay and reverb, very very cool bass line, a slow solo and a deep breath can be heard right from the begining. This start to me is almost a jazz feel but that soon dissapates to something that resembles an Aerosmith song. The verse is slow building to the chorus with some of the catchiest back-up vocals, which sounds like a forced voice mixed with some chorus effect, deffinately something to get you singing along. A slower song with good solos after each chorus. 4/5
6.Bedroom After Bedroom [3:58] - Another cool sounding start with volume swells to the best song in my opinion on the album! Great fast paced song, full of energy that would go off live, I like everything about this song, the lyrics, the riffs, the melody and the bridge that resembles the start. The solos are pretty basic but lend themselves well to the song especially to the fade out. Again best on the album. 5/5
7.Red Back Fever [3:59] - Did I say the best back up vocals before? Scratch that these are! The whole band and the crowd screeming "RED BACK FEVER" before Brewster initiates another decent short solo. Probably the best riff on the album as well, you'll definately have the fever after listening to this song it totally rocks. 4.5/5
8.Don't Need You [2:20] - Good chugga bass line to start the song but all in all this song is lacking, just a riff one of the members wanted to add to the record I reckon. Short enough not to complain though. 3/5
9.Natural Born Woman [3:40] - The second cover on the album originally done by Steve Marriott has had little or no tampering, pretty much just left as it was. 3/5
10.High and Dry [5:53] - Quite a slow laid back song but cool and rockin' none the less. Sometimes I wonder whether I had heard this song previously by someone else....(Steppenwolf?) it sounds so drawn back with a steady bass line that the lyrics really take over which is good because they are catchy. 3.5/5
11.Hold On [6:12] - This is the rock ballad on the album and after a few listens it really is up there with some of the classics. Neeson's raspy voice is lent well to this song with a similar meaningful effect that Axl and Tyler give their bands. There is also a random riff that is injected into the song that at first I didn't think fitted but now is quite cool, solos are also epic and good. 4/5
12.No More Words [1:42] - Essentially this is an instumental though words are said during the song they are neally impossible to hear. It consists of one very metal riff and a cool lead tone over the top. Good way to end a rock album, I doubt they wanted it to finish with a ballad, they wanted remind you it IS a rock album. 4/5
There it is a very good record reviewed for you, a deffinate pick up for fans of AC/DC, Velvet Revolver and the like. A thing to remember when listening to this is that this is not a new band, they are not playing past but were infact part of that day and age as pioneers. Happy Listening!
