APRIL
WINE – Harder.....Faster
Aquarius Records
Some people love Canada's music scene so much that
they want to make it the 51st state of their country. I won’t go that far. And
since it’s Sunday morning, I think I’ll take a more relaxed musical approach.
Although “relaxed” is a matter of taste... Of course, the eighth album from the
Canadian hard rockers is probably not what they themselves would consider
relaxed, given its very telling title, “Harder... Faster.” The opening track,
“I Like to Rock,” is one of the songs that made them internationally known and
has appeared on heavy metal compilations from that era, such as “Metal Mania”
(that’s where I discovered them).
APRIL WINE is one of those bands that achieved great
success within their own country, but not so much on the international stage.
As I mentioned earlier, “I Like to Rock” is one of the compositions that gave
them a degree of international recognition. It’s truly a shame because APRIL
WINE possesses quality and beautiful ideas.
Musically, I would compare their sound to more
well-known bands of the era, like SCORPIONS, MSG, UFO, and even KISS,
particularly when they get a bit more “wild” in their music and lyrics. Having
recently listened to the album, I can say it has successfully withstood the
test of time. It features tracks like:
- “I Like to Rock” (in my opinion, the opening melody
shares quite a bit with the song “Reign Of Fire” by ARMORED SAINT),
- “Say Hello” (which also gave them international
prestige),
- “Ladies Man” (those KISS influences I mentioned
earlier),
- “Before the Dawn” (the SCORPIONS and MSG references
I noted),
- “Babes In Arms,” and
- “Better Do It Well” with its rock and roll vibe.
The album concludes with a cover of the KING CRIMSON
song “21st Century Schizoid Man.”
So, if you're looking for something not so well-known
yet of high quality in classic hard rock music, this release is a solid
recommendation.
Nick Parastatidis
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