LABEL: Z RECORDS ZR1997012
OVERALL: 80%
Produced by: Great King Rat
OVERALL: 80%
Produced by: Great King Rat
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LABEL: Z RECORDS ZR1997012 OVERALL: 80% Produced by: Great King Rat | ||||
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Yes more tracks from the Vaults! Or from the can as the title suggests! I don't think there will be too many complaints for the Great King Rat and also Lillian Axe releases, as I think some unreleased demo's and album tracks still need to see the light of day. The band's members have all gone on to make names of themselves outside the GKR arena. Nice to see, however, that they are considering a return for a brand new studio album. But for now lets look at these unreleased tunes. These fabulous Swedish musicians released only one album a few years back before heading into several separate areas. The most well known member of Great King Rat would have to be vocalist Leif Sundin, who has featured in several big bands, like MSG, but none bigger than fronting the Yngwie Malmsteen band. | ||
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Out Of The Can is a collection of the band's unreleased material. Basically, more good solid hard rock with a melodic and sometimes slightly commercial edge. If you have never heard GKR or Leif Sundin before, this stuff should make you an instant fan. This is definitely European style hard rock, but at it's finest and without the sometimes distracting feel of some German hard rock. Very USA friendly and executed perfectly. The band sound a little like Bonham and Tesla, with vocalist Leif comparing to a heavier Eric Martin, or Daniel McMaster from Bonham. Wide Awake In Dreamland is from the sessions for their debut album. It's a demo that was never finished for that album. Great commercial hard rocker and great hook. Lovin' You is one of the most commercial and catchiest numbers of the album. Eric Martin and Jeff Keith of Tesla eat your heart out. Big hook. the tracks from Don't Stop Believing through to Make It Last come from recording sessions late in 1991. Long Time has some nice Zeppelin-ish riffs and plenty of melodies. Lay Down Your Guns is more Eric Martin like commercial rock. Make It Last is a heavier number but has one of the bigger and more harmony filled choruses from this record. Be My Friend is a slow bluesy ballad in the vein of a Paul Rogers vocal, incidentally another vocalist Leif has been compared to. Leavin' This World is a moody, smoldering rocker. Restless One is choppy, uptempo and hard rocking. Again a little Zeppelin-esque thanks to the guitar playing of the great Pontus Norgren. Won't Look Back is the closest thing to a big ballad you will ever hear from GKR. Nice change of pace. And classy way to end the album. Let's hope the next one if a full studio production and isn't half a dozen years away. | PRODUCTION: 73% | SONGS: 82% | VIBE: 78% | ATTITUDE: 81% | ESSENTIAL FOR: All fans of Swedish hard rock and Great King Rat's debut. |
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DISCOGRAPHY: Great King Rat . Out Of The Can
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