FURIOUS ZOO – Wock N’ Woll – Furioso IV

January 30th, 2013 by david.wilson

Rebel Music ( Release Date – Out Now)

Parisian rockers, Furious Zoo, are a project put together by frontman Renaud Hantson back in 1991. This is the band’s sixth album which did surprise me as the name was new to me. The guys master in decent melodic rock with Renaud out front pulling all the trademark rockstar moves ( there is a ‘bootleg’ live DVD which accompanies the album in case you are in any doubt).

The band can certainly play and they also know how to write catchy songs. The album though tends to be a bit hit and miss but when they hit the mark on tracks like the title track, ‘Wock N’ Woll’, they prove themselves more than deserving of your attention. Guitarist Michael Zurita knows his way around a fret board and shines throughout. He is especially outstanding on the Journey- like track ‘Higher’ which has a great hook and a soaring chorus.

There are a few slower, ballad-like numbers which were a bit too sugary and schmaltzy for my taste, I could image a very earnest performance from Renaud on these songs when played live. The other number that for me is well wide of the mark is the acoustic version of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ which is a brave attempt that ultimately falls flat.

I am not too sure how popular the guys are in their native land but I can understand why after 5 albums they still have a low profile. This is a good album with some impressive tracks, but by no means an essential purchase. If you are in Paris and see one of their gigs advertised you could do worse than pop along, I wouldn’t go too far out of my way though.

***

David Wilson

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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
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