Frontiers Records going 'vintage' again! This is STREET LEGAL's sophomore release, called Bite The Bullet, and if you expect another melodic Rock/AOR catalogue number well, it is not the case this time. Let's chop it up in key-facts:
DA VINCI: This quintet was - even if never noticed/promoted by grand Media back then - one of the finest Hard Rock/AOR pieces to emerge from Norway/Scandinavia in the late 80s. With great hooks, crystal clear production and some remarkably charming vocals, DA VINCI released two albums in 1987 and 1989 (Da Vinci and Back In Business, in respect) and scored good success in their homeland, while the rest of the world was shaking to the EUROPE rhythms.
Bjorn Boge: The bassist of DA VINCI, he also sang lead vocals and was the songwriter for the band while handling the production. Willing to come up with a different - more 'classic' - sound through a new project, he formed STREET LEGAL in the late 90s and released the first album, Thunderdome, in 2000. Who ever purchased this CD back than can as well stop reading and consider he/she should look out for this new cut soon.
STREET LEGAL: Who knows what happened all these nine years? Fact is, to be up-to-date, the band is back in action, with Boge calling his brother Oysten to fill in as the drummer, and guitar issues finally solved by Tore Ostby (ARK, CONCEPTION) and Rolf Bjorseth performing the 6-string parts. Is this a steady lineup, now? Should we have to wait for nine years again for (and if) a third album? Proof overruled.
Vintage Hard Rock: even more focused on the hardrockin' magic of the late 70s/early 80s than Thunderdome, Bite The Bullet will surely apply to the rocker's thirst for music to the likes of (mainly) THIN LIZZY, Gary Moore (80s era), BLUE MURDER, MSG, (some of) WHITESNAKE and VAN HALEN (MK I). Indeed, the THIN LIZZY reference could alone speak for the whole album. Twin lead melodies, rockin' choruses, deep vocals by Boge and a sensational atmosphere for the mature rocker/metalhead. The album has energetic tracks (Warriors Of Genghis Khan, Starship Trooper), breezing ballads (Shadow In My Heart), bluesrockin' mid-tempo cuts (Somebody Up There Likes Me, Silent Tear), up-tempo rockers (Loading Up, Unconditional Love), 'epic' anthems (The Battle Of Kringen)...everything to feed your vintage Hard Rock hunger. Boge is a good singer, he fits the scene and there's no words to describe the guitar parts. Tore Osby's name speaks for himself, plus any guitarist dealin' with this wizard shall be of admirable expertise.
Bjorn Boge works as a producer, too, being in charge of the sound for bands like DODHEIMSGARD, KOVENANT, CADAVER and SUSPERIA. Yeap, extreme Metal stuff. Still, when it comes to his own influence, it's stuff like Bite The Bullet that bursts out. STREET LEGAL reminds us of the magic of genuine, vintage Hard Rock music. Reminder accepted, Bjorn.
P.S. #1: STREET LEGAL will feature a bonus track for the Japanese release of Bite The Bullet, a version of the classic song I Don't Wanna Wait Anymore by THE TUBES.
P.S. #2: Maniac is a cover version of the 1983 hit by Michael Sembello (included on the Flashdance movie OST).