MISTRESS is a Melodic Hard Rock/Metal/AOR band, formed in 2008 in New Zealand.  After relocating to Wellington and a line-up change, the band released their first full-length album here through Demon Doll Records.  The album contains nine tracks.

"Rock It Tonight" leads off the album, with an easy-listening, jovial riff.  I am immediately reminded of the glory days on the Sunset Strip in the 1980's.  This band could be opening for RATT at the Whisky-A-Go-Go.  The title track continues in this vein, with a TED NUGENT type opening riff, and some fine vocal harmonies, complete with a big guitar solo.  "Turn It On" features the classic "hey" shout-outs that is common in this genre.  There is a short lived but nice little melodic bridge after the second chorus that caught my ear.  In "Don't Stop Now" some nice keyboard notes accentuate the main riff, and there is a really strong chorus.  A key change at the end does add some nice depth.  When I listen to "To The Top," it feels like some old-school L.A. GUNS are mixed in here, to my liking, and another solid chorus.

The remainder of the album is very similar, with the exception of "Live It Up," which has a faster pace and more emotional vocal delivery.  Overall, the band's attempt at bringing back that big rock sound, with sexy, slick hooks and choruses is pretty straightforward.  There is a lot of melody here which I like, but there is also a thin-ness to many of the riffs.  I think the band could benefit from some beefiness, a bit more aggression, and some meter changes out of the usual mid-tempo range.  They have the song structures and harmonies down well, and Siggy's vocals are a nice complement to the sound, but there is just not enough instrumentation and punch within the tracks.