The first thing I did as soon as I got this promo copy in my hands was to put it in the CD player and turn it up to ten to hear track #2. I was too curious to see if the track - entitled Pyromania - was a killer or not. This is my personal Def Leppard favorite album (1983) and nothing in this life exists by luck. Good news is that the song is a great tune. Even better news came from the entire audition. Fate is merciful and we like it hot!
I remember having the chance to hear the self titled Biss album back in 2002. An impressive Euro-Hard Rock debut (including a cover version of Falco's Rock Me Amadeus) with none other than Fernando Garcia (ex-Victory) on vocals and Michael Voss (Mad Max, Casanova etc) as the band's console 'helping hand'. Even if Garcia left the band's ranks, another great voice stepped in to sing for the sophomore Joker In The Deck (2003) release. Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart, Red Rum, Rain) was in and I'm still trying to find the album just for a 'glimpse'.
Anyway, two years later Bormann steps out and my beloved Marc Storace (Krokus) joins the camp. And, to end the CV data, what an impressive album he sings on! Starting off rather average - Breathless is not something that interesting - it's the heavy power of Pyromania with the excellent vocal lines in front of great guitar chords that make the difference. All the way from here, Face-Off' features equal dynamites with the breathtaking voice of Storace, thunderous riffs from Ralph Heyne (ex-Mad Max, I think?). Michael Voss once again handled the production duties in an album full of energy! Be it the roaring Calling or the emotional Lady Of The Night - not to forget the immense force of/ Pyromania. I was surprised enough to see a great cover version of Icon's 'hidden gem' Raise The Hammer (off the Night Of The Crime 1985 album).
There's no need to add something else to this review. 'Riffy' melodic Hard Rock music the European way - almost no keys included - and I bet you'll be surprised by this album's freshness! Marc Storace is like the old wine, you know the rest. Fans of Krokus, Bonfire, Mad Max, Whitesknake and Icon step in! This album rocks!