CHARLOTTE are a hard rock/glam metal quintet, hailing from Los Angeles, California. After originally forming in 1986, the group shortly disbanded ten years later. However, they are more than ready for their comeback, having reformed in 2009 with a brand-new line-up. Previously being the support act for bands such as Ezo, XYZ and Vixen, CHARLOTTE have just released their second self-titled studio album "Charlotte" on June 16^th, 2022, via Eonian Records.

The first track on the release is "Siren". The song begins on an instrumental note, which takes me right back down memory lane. The riff sounds instantly like it belongs on a LED ZEPPELIN record. "Medusa Groove" has a very funky introduction, with a hard-hitting riff leading the way. Eric Ganz's vocals are such a delight on this track, really suiting this genre of music down to the ground. You can definitely tell they have been in the game for quite some time. "Zoo Of Hearts" is more of an energetic song from the get-go, with a head bopping riff taking the reins. As the track progresses, the riff gets more and more prominent, becoming stuck in your head as a result - one of the better tracks on the album so far! "Little Devils" is similar, with a high-energy riff starting things off well. However, this track is slightly different as it evolves into more of a classic rock ballad, while still conserving some of those lively instrumentals in the background. Nearer the end of the song, Eric Ganz's vocals sound identical to that of SYSTEM OF A DOWN's DARON MALAKIAN.

"Woman Behind The Eyes" is probably one of the best tracks on the album, getting better and better as it progresses. The chorus has been very well written and is undoubtedly one of my favourite choruses in the whole release. "When I Need You" is another fantastic song from CHARLOTTE. It really does seem as though the tracks progressively get better as you dive further into the compilation. "Got Love On The Line" and "Miss Necrophilia" are the next two songs, which both have an instantly infectious riff from the start, getting more and more addictive as time goes on. The next song "She Get It Up" is a double entendre for sure! The track is infectious though from start to finish - one of my favourites on the entire album. "Changes" takes things down a slightly quieter road, but it is most definitely a pleasant change. "Roadhouse Of Love" is a complete contrast though - another high-energy hard rock song sure to get stuck in your head!

"Mistreated" starts off well with a guitar riff which is pretty identical to that of KISS. The track contains some undeniably catchy hooks within the chorus - just incredible! However, I must admit that the next few songs "Rock City USA", "Tough Love" and "Vicious Nature" are quite forgettable in comparison. "She's On Fire" sounds like a MOTLEY CRUE song, whereas the last track on the album "All Tied Up" seems to be heavily inspired by LED ZEPPELIN, with Eric Ganz's vocals sounding very similar to ROBERT PLANT for the duration - not a bad closing song in the slightest.

Overall, "Charlotte" is a real mixed bag of quite similar sounding songs. The compilation really varies from infectious tracks that you can't get out of your head to songs that are instantly unmemorable. However, there is absolutely no denying that CHARLOTTE are an incredible bunch of musicians who are insanely talented. I feel like any hardcore fan of glam metal will go mad for this record, whereas I though it was a bit hit and miss, to be honest.