Though Hotwire exist since 1993 I never heard them before (or at least I can't recall hearing about them - it's an age thing) and after listening Devil In Disguise I admit I decided to dig a bit in their past.
The band's debut attempt was a maxi single produced by Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller (Bonfire) in 1994 and soon after their first full length simply titled Hotwire was also released (1995). It took them three years to release a second album, Face Another Day (1998). The band immediately started touring with acts such as Bonfire (of course) and Crystal Ball. In 2001 they strike once more with Middle Of Nowhere and Andy Urbeck as the new vocalist. Most of 2001 and 2002 is used for live shows but after that the band takes a break until, pretty much, today...
What is really interesting in Devil In Disguise is the band's ability to balance between A.O.R. and more Europe hard rock oriented music. The outcome is a mixture Bonfire (once more), Def Leppard and maybe a little Pink Cream 69 here and there. Though the majority of the material can best be described as mellow there are several heavier moments where the rhythm section rises the tempo higher than the usual. Mostly driven by the excellent vocal abilities of Andy Urbeck, this guy is really a pleasure to listen at, the compositions vary in speed offering an interesting range of ideas making the material more appealing to the audience.
Production wise this album offers a really warm sound to the listener adding to the overall image and enhancing the listening experience. Hotwire might not have something to add in the rock scene but they are professionals enough to know the essentials of a good album.