Quick Plays: DAVID GATES, MISTRESS, CRASHDIET, REINXEED, SAVATAGE

October 27th, 2013 by jason

MISTRESS Loveteaser
www.reverbnation.com/mistressrockband

New Zealand band Mistress wants to bring back that 80’s hair metal sound…on a £2.53 budget judging by the sound. Mind you legendary producer Beau Hill does remix one song on here, ‘She’s A Sinner’.

Siggy Signal is not too bad on vocals but oh dear those corny lyrics and the gang vocals are dire, just listen to title track. The guitar riffs are good like on ‘To The Top’, it’s just the songs lack a decent chorus and an outside songwriter may have helped the cause too.

Like a poor man’s Ratt and the original were bad enough! **

Review by Jason Ritchie

DAVID GATES First, Never Let Go, Goodbye Girl, Falling In Love Again
Edsel/Rhino [Release date 30.09.13]

The first four David Gates solo albums re-issued on two CD’s, although the ‘Goodbye Girl’ only features the original songs of that album as the rest were off the previous two solo albums and already on this re-issue in full. David Gates was one of the main driving forces behind the late 80’s/early 70’s soft rockers Bread and two of the band Mike Botts and Larry Knechtel, appear across these solo albums.

Of the albums 1973′s ‘First’ is perhaps the closet to the Bread sound, although ‘Sunday Rider’ rocks things up a little and the eight minute ‘Suite: Clouds, Rain’ has a Moog solo and a slightly proggy feel. Noted session musicians Jim Horn, Larry Carlton and Russ Kunkel guest on the album too.

‘Never Let Go’ released in 1975 again features a ballad heavy set and could be seen as Bread minus Jimmy Griffin as there are no guests on this album bar Botts and Knectel. ‘Never Let Her Go’ and ‘Part Time Love’ are the highlights.

‘Goodbye Girl’ is the soundtrack to the film of the same name and ‘Overnight Sensation’ is a nice AOR tune.

The final solo album on here is his 1980 release ‘Falling In Love Again’ which has a more laid back AOR feel, although by this time Gates’ mellower ballads were under threat from that 80’s beast, the power ballad. ‘Starship Ride’ is a bit of fun, with the title track again showing what a lovely melodious vocal David Gates possesses.

Certainly of interest to fans of his work and Bread and proof that he hit on a timeless style of soft rock/pop rock that still sees his songs, mainly as a member of Bread, played today on radio. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

REDS’COOL Bad Story (Music Buy Mail)

Reds’Cool is a melodic rock outfit hailing from Russia. As one can imagine, the band is touted as the next Gorky Park – the Russian band that made it big with “Bang” in the late 80’s. “Bad Story” is Red’sCool’s second effort, following their debut, “Attraction”, released in 2011.

Produced by Michael Wagener (Alice Cooper, White Lion, Great White etc.), the opening track immediately grabs you as you settle into aural pleasure., the album oozing class throughout the nine tracks on offer. While I can understand the hype and comparison to Gorky Park, the album is not as bombastic as the 80’s but, nonetheless is sheer melodic rock bliss. An extra track or two would not have gone amiss…

Reds’Cool is damn cool. This album is one of the surprises of the year. They are currently touring with Black Star Riders and if they sound half as good as this album they’ll be worth seeing. ****1/2