THE DEAD DAISIES is a Hard Rock band made up of members who are famous for being in other bands. The group formed in 2013 and has been going strong ever since. To date they have five other albums to their credit; "Locked And Loaded" is their sixth and latest release which was released last month.

Since "Locked And Loaded" is comprised of cover songs there aren't any great surprises to be discovered upon it. If you're of a certain age then you'll probably be familiar with most, if not all, of the material that was recorded. I'm not a huge fan of albums of this nature; I won't insult you by pretending that I am. I believe covering other people's music while performing a show is alright, However, recording other people's hit songs isn't always the smartest thing to do. If you get the songs right then people will love you for it. If you get them wrong, there's a good possibility you might lose a few fans along the way. However, I intend to be as fair as I can while I review the album in spite of my personal reservations.

"Midnight Moses" was originally a popular song during the early 1970s. Since it was one of the few songs on the album that I wasn't familiar with I caught the original version on YouTube by the SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND.  The newer rendition is a little slower in pace. However, the vocals are better, in my opinion, with regard to tone and delivery. I think the music is a bit better, too. It's a Classic Rock song done just right. "Evil" sounds nothing like the original song that inspired it. The song was titled "Evil Is Going On" and was performed by a Blues artist called HOWLIN' WOLF during the late 1950s. It's a blues song through and through. The updated version uses the same lyrics, but everything else about is all Hard Rock. The tone, pace and delivery of the vocals match the harder-edged music perfectly. Yet I find that I still enjoy the original version of the song just a little more. The newer version certainly rocks, but at the cost of the song's soulful nature which made it more heartfelt. All the same, it's a good effort by the band, especially in terms of the guitar-playing which is pretty great. "Fortunate Son" is far more raucous in its updated form. I have to admit I like it better than the original track by CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, too. It retains the original defiant spirit while adding a bit more anger to its tone, making it an appropriate song for the  current time we're living in. Both the vocals and music are outstanding. It is well worth the time it takes to listen to! "Join Together" is a tribute to the band who sang it first. With the exception of a few added flourishes to the music there isn't a great deal of difference between it and the original version by THE WHO. The guitar playing is exceptionally good while the vocals remain true to Roger Daltrey's style and tone. It's another track I highly recommend.

"Helter Skelter" is excellent. The band has put their own mark on the song without ruining it. As a fan of THE BEATLES I was leery at first, but that quickly passed as I listened to the track. It's an absolutely fantastic rendition that should make any fan of the Fab Four quite happy. "Bitch" has a very different sound that the first version by THE ROLLING STONES. The newer version grows on you as you listen to it. It has a slower pace, yet retains plenty of attitude. I still like the original a little more, but that's only because I'm a fan of the STONES. I think plenty of Hard Rock fans will appreciate what THE DEAD DAISIES have done with the song. "American Band" is a live version of a track that many consider a classic. I'm not one of those people. I can honestly say that I skip this song whenever it starts to play because I have heard it far too many times. However, I will give the band credit for playing it very well. If you like the song then you'll love this rendition of it. "Revolution" manages to stay pretty close to the first version as performed by THE BEATLES with regard to the song's pace. Otherwise, it is much harder edged in its newer form with far more defiance as well as attitude. It's a nicely played 21st Century update of the original. "Rockin' In The Free World" is one I don't like. I can't embrace this rendition because the one performed by EDDIE VEDDER is superior in my opinion. I adore the original version by NEIL YOUNG even more than that. Sorry, can't recommend the newest take on the song. It simply doesn't work for me at all. The final song on the album is "Highway Star". It's another one of those compositions that I've heard far more than I care to think about. It's overplayed all the time anywhere a Classic Rock fan base exists. Yet, THE DEAD DAISIES somehow manage to make it interesting again. They sound like DEEP PURPLE did during its heyday, which is pretty cool. The fact that I listened to the whole track really does speak volumes. I'm impressed, I won't lie.

If you're a fan of cover songs then you will probably enjoy this album. The same applies if you're a dedicated fan of THE DEAD DAISIES. It's a nice collection of songs that most Rock 'n Roll fans are familiar with and it would be a good addition to any music fan's collection.