Album review: DIAMANTE – Coming In Hot
Better Noise Records [Release date 15.06.18]
Mixing pop, alt and classic rock, the debut album of 21 year old LA-based Diamante Azzura Bovell’s (she’s of Mexican/ Italian parentage) is a humungous slice of 80′s influenced, American radio friendly, hard-hitting pop/rock.
Produced by Howard Benson – no stranger to female fronted rock, having produced Halestorm’s faultless debut and worked Kelly Clarkson and Flyleaf – Coming In Hot is choreographed to appeal to an audience who want their rock hot, raunchy, and sassy.
And with touring notches on her bedpost of Flyleaf (on the Revolver Magazine Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock tour), David Coverdale/Whitesnake, and Hinder (multi-platinum, angsty American rockers, but a new one on me), and an ever increasing YouTube following, the future looks bright for Diamante.
But it sort of says it all that, a fan of artists like Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne, Diamante has emerged via a School of Rock summer programme. So, while it may be brash, sassy, and have instant ‘kerb appeal’ in abundance, make no mistake, there is a distinct whiff of rock and rock ‘n’ roll by numbers about Coming In Hot.
All the right boxes are ticked – the humungous Joan Jett/Runaways title track opener, ‘The Sound Of Us’ echoes Benatar and Halestorm, and numbers like ‘Had Enough’ and ‘Black Heart’ would have easily fitted into a P!nk set, had she continued her flirtation with rock. ‘Haunted’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ have Lzzy Hale/Halestorm stamped all over them.
There’s a cover (and to be fair, a pretty decent update) of Heart’s ‘Crazy On You’, and the obligatory ballad – ‘I’m Sorry’. Diamante’s vocals throughout have just the just the right amount of edge, and with her ‘hot’ looks (although the cover conveys a rather clean cut image), it adds up to a hormonal teenage boy’s musical ‘wet dream’.
Impressively put together, I’d normally fall for this sort of release hook, line, and sinker. But I just can’t shake the feel that it’s overly contrived. Nevertheless, it’s easy to imagine American youth taking the Diamante bait like lemmings. I’d like to say it could only happen in Hollywood, or even only in America. But with an American Idol winner now fronting ‘Queen’ it could happen everywhere. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 28 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 30 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 29 April 2024
BRIGITTE PURDY Sugar Fried Candy (Dirtshack Records)
ATTIC THEORY The Legacy (indie)
THE HOWLERS I Need Your Love (indie)
VELVETEEN QUEEN Bad Reputation (indie)
WILLS AND THE WILLING Scuffed Knees (Smash & Grab Music Ltd)
READY THE PRINCE Still Believe (indie)
CICADASTONE Last In Line (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 29 April 2024
09:00-12:00 PRAYING MANTIS Defiance (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections