From Bandcamp, "Sweet Poison" is an outstanding rock album providing hit after hit and anthem after anthem, taking 80's Retro Rock to an extraordinary new level. Brace yourself as THE NEW ROSES shift into high gear, taking you on a ride towards the horizon of stadium rock." The album has eleven songs, and "My Kinda Crazy" is the first. The riff is simple, but the raspy lead vocals, layered harmonies and all-out chorus have a very catchy quality to them. It's retro, but also quite refreshing and modern sounding. "Playing with Fire" is a smooth and sultry mid-tempo number, rich again in the chorus.

"All I Ever Needed," in keeping with the 80's tribute sound, it the obligatory power ballad on the album. Every band did this back in the day, and we Metalheads who lived through the time actually looked forward to them. It's tender, and touching, with a big punch at the end. "Warpaint" is a bit dirty and sleazier, with a snarl in the vocals and some energetic riffs. The band is on the warpath and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. "Dead of Night" is a mid-tempo song that oozed sex appeal. The layering in the vocals is key to the band's sound. They aren't hard to do necessarily, but I have heard them come out awful from other bands.

"True Love" is the second "ballad" on the album. Beginning with acoustic guitars and poignant, emotive vocals, it builds to a crescendo of heart-aching outcries. "Sweet Gloria" is an ode to a lover. You can feel the sentiment in the vocals; she is something special for sure. "The Lion in You" features some piano notes in this sleazy swinger. It an anthem if you will; an ode to spurring someone to action. "The Veins of this Town" closes the album. It's a sweet closer, and probably the best song on the album. The chorus is jammed backed with emotions and the sound begs you to sing along.

Any band worth their weight back in the day was good at two things...first, writing catchy music that sticks in your head and makes you feel good about yourself. Second, being able to push the melodies deep inside you to the point that you can't easily forget about them. I have heard many bands try to revive the "big" sound from the 1980's without much success (especially some of those Frontiers Music "projects" - no offense meant). With "Sweet Poison," THE NEW ROSES will make you forget about all of those, pull you promptly into their world, pump you full of energy, and woo you with their brand of hooks and melodies. Bravo!