SNAKECHARMER is the Hard Rock pet project of Micky Moody and Neil Murray, two original members of 80's Glam giants WHITESNAKE. They started the band in 2011, and released their first album, "Snakecharmer" in 2013. The group came out with "Second Skin" in 2017, and both albums have been well-received among a majority of critics and fans alike. Though the lead guitarist and bassist both are ex-WHITESNAKE veterans, their new pseudo-solo act is decidedly more mature and polished than their wild years in the 80's and early 90's. In 2016, when Moody decided to leave the band, they brought in Simon McBride to take his place. McBride has garnered world-wide renown for his unique, Blues-style guitar playing, in fact, he's been given the nickname of "The Irish Guitar Hero" by Nugene Records, and has been compared to Jimmy Page of LED ZEPPELIN and Paul Kossoff of FREE. Though they've received some criticism for being a knockoff of their previous musical endeavors with WHITESNAKE, it's impossible to deny that there's a ton of talent packed into this band, and judging just from the success of Moody and Murray there has to be a reason behind their rise to fame.

"Sounds Like a Plan" definitely introduces some of that old-school WHITESNAKE vibe, especially in Ousey's vocals. They're a pure blast of bluesy Hard Rock, and the 70's influences in the groove of the guitar riffs hook together perfectly. While the band held onto some of their old style, they've also grown up a lot. This track is like a more mature, rhythmic version of WHITESNAKE. "That Kind of Love" is a mellowed-out groove track with impeccable guitar work from McBride and a simple but steady drum riff in the background tying everything together. The contrast between the calmer verses and the explosion of sound in the chorus truly embodies what Rock n' Roll is all about. This track could fit right in with any ZEPPELIN or BON JOVI track on the radio. What truly ties the song together, though, is the vocals. Ousey has that perfect voice that's a mix of gritty power and melodic sweeps.

"Are You Ready to Fly" is a great song, one of my favorites on the album, in fact. The chugging bass riff gives the track a slightly heavier sound, while the synthy keyboard introduces a new, attention-grabbing element. The rhythm established by the bass and guitar makes it impossible to not want to tap your feet along, and the groove in the chorus is infectiously catchy. In "Follow Me Under", a bit of Murray's background in BLACK SABBATH comes out in the intro. The strongest part of this track is the rhythm of the drums. While James's beats aren't especially complex, they stand out over the guitar and bass and manage to unite all the different riffs into a cohesive melody. The groove in this song is great as well: it's clear how much their sound and style have evolved since their days in WHITESNAKE.

"I'll Take You as You Are" introduces an entirely new sound, opening with a whining intro and acoustic riff. I was fearing a ballad, however, the song fell into a chorus that was decidedly more Rock n' Roll. While the verses seemed a bit repetitive and simplistic to me, the chorus was full of Blues influences and Ousey's swinging vocal melodies helped to create variety. "Hell of a Way to Live" was another one of my favorites on this album. It was a throwback to some of WHITESNAKE's heavier songs, and the choppy guitar riff was a rhythmic dream. Honestly, the riff dominated this song and stole the spotlight, but in a good way. It really showcased McBride and Wisefield's talent for guitar, and twisted into the drums and vocals in a way that tied everything together perfectly.

"Fade Away" is the prerequisite ballad of SNAKECHARMER. I get that every, and I mean every, Hard Rock band has at least one ballad on their albums. While this one wasn't terrible (here's lookin' at you, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"), it wasn't great. The guitars and bass blended together into a mass of ambient noise, and overall, it just didn't capture my attention like I was hoping. The drum track was the only thing that stood out, even the solo was boring, let's not mince words. "Dress It Up," while catchy for sure, sounded almost like a carbon copy of an old AC/DC riff. I have no complaints with the talent of the band, they're all obviously professional musicians with years of experience. However, recycling old riffs and styles never works out in any band's favor, no matter how talented, and that was especially apparent in this song.

"Punching Above My Weight" opened with a muted, rhythmic acoustic riff and Ousey's isolated vocals. However, it soon swooped into a classic 70's Rock riff and catchy chorus. The solo here was absolutely a traditional, screaming riff, but it was executed perfectly. The rest of the track had enough unique elements that it didn't become boring (like the clapping in the chorus) and brought the band back to their roots. "Forgive and Forget" again gave me that incredibly strong sense of déja vú, especially in the opening riff. Maybe once you've heard one Blues riff, you've heard them all, but I felt like this song was just too similar to ones I'd heard before. Even the tinkling keyboard thrown in there sounded overly familiar. Don't get me wrong, it's a good song, and technically solid, but just too close to melodies and rhythms I'd heard many times over.

The last song, "Where Do We Go From Here", has a great melody, I'll admit, and Ousey's slightly toned-down vocals really showcased his talent. The lyrics here are a bit melancholy, from what I've heard, I think the whole band wants to return to their days of glory in the 80's. The solo in this song is what impressed me the most. McBride really is a guitar wizard, and his solo was absolutely ripping. Overall, I want to commend SNAKECHARMER for their longevity and years of experience as a band. Their talent really is obvious, and they know how to write a great riff. However, the band seems to still be living in the past, and some of their songs in particular just seem recycled and clichéd. I'm sure, though, that any WHITESNAKE fans would love this album, but in order to stand out, they've got to bring something new to the Rock scene.