Frontiers Records [Release date: 17.05.13]
This is a real ‘before they were famous moment’. Burning Rain was the last in a series of bands (Lion, Bad Moon Rising) that brought guitarist Doug Aldrich critical acclaim if not commercial success, before he belatedly got the recognition he deserved, initially with Dio then for the past decade as David Coverdale’s main partner in Whitesnake.
Their two albums, 1999’s self titled debut and 2001’s Pleasure to Burn, came out on Z Records at a time when traditional bluesy hard rock could not have been less fashionable, and are long out of print, so Frontiers Records have taken the opportunity of a new Burning Rain album to re-release them.
His frenzied guitar style, blending Jimmy Page like riffery with the more technical fretboard burning of contemporaries like George Lynch, is all over both albums, and combined with singer Keith St John’s muscular, bluesy stylings- coming over a cross between Robert Plant and the late Ray Gillen – can be seen as a prototype for the last two Whitesnake studio albums.
Thoroughly enjoyable, nevertheless this is not a musical form that lends itself to originality, and I found myself playing name that tune during the debut in particular.
On the debut Burning Rain ‘Jungle Queen’ has the ‘Appetite for Destruction’ vibe the title would suggest, ‘Can’t Cure the Fire’ is prime DLR era Van Halen and ‘Cherry Grove’ swaggers on a very Zeppelin-inspired riff.
Nevertheless it is hard not to like tracks like swaggering opener ‘Smooth Locomotion’ and ‘Making My Heart Beat’ and ‘Can’t Turn Your Back on Lov’e, both of which slow the pace down very effectively. While the album dips in quality late on, a couple of acoustic versions of tracks are a welcome bonus. ****
Two years on, and Pleasure to Burn repeated the same formula, although the likes of ‘Stone Cold and Crazy’ and ‘Love Emotion’ have a more direct, commercial feel to them. Again, with the benefit of hindsight, it is easier to see how old ‘Elsie’ alighted on the blond guitarist as the yin to his yang.
‘Cherie Don’t Break My Heart’ is a stately semi ballad which could be a sequel to ‘Is This Love’, ‘Sex Machine’ takes the single entendre approach of Whitesnake, and ‘Judgement Day’ borrows both a title and a Zeppelin-ish vibe from the ‘Snake.
If you like blues based hard rock with a touch of late eighties swagger, or are interested how Doug Aldrich got his big gig, then both come highly recommended. ****1/2
Review by Andy Nathan
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.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
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 20 October 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 22 October 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 28 October 2024
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
