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Maybe I just haven’t treaded the floorboards over at Melodic Rock or AOR World in a while, because it’s been ages since I came across something this spot-on anachronistic with respect to ‘80s hard rock/glam. To say this sounds like a perfect replica of the party rock of yore is pure understatement. “Heartbreaker” is a classic opener with an immortal chorus and drums more aggressive than they need to be (a definite bonus), “Never Give It Up” and “Dirty Game” boast riffs straight out of the Ratt playbook circa Reach for the Sky, “All I Need” is a power ballad just like those which every band released as its second single in 1989 and 1990, and instrumental “T.K.O.” is a dead ringer for an Yngwie Malmsteen baroque metal exercise. Although the band pays lip service to various and sundry influences ranging from GN'R to Whitesnake to Journey, I really don’t hear them here. Perhaps the lip service to my third band listed is validated by the keyboard prevalence, but mostly this sounds like the panoply of filler sleaze bands that showed up late in the game, rather than in the more platinum-rewarded forebears. That’s no withering criticism from my pen, however, since I’m proud to be able to parse the distinctions between Hericane Alice and Sleeze Beez, Kik Tracee and Vain, Slammin' Gladys and Babylon A.D. If you were or still are a glutton for the same, like me, you’ll find this a rich and uplifting debut. Tongue in cheek optional.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Heartbreaker |
| 2. Feel the Heat (Tonight) |
| 3. Never Give It Up |
| 4. All I Need |
| 5. Dirty Game |
| 6. Running Away |
| 7. Show Me the Way |
| 8. Rock It |
| 9. T.K.O. [Instrumental] |
| 10. Heaven Is Waiting |
: 41:58
| Buy other Crossfire albums |
