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Frontiers Records [Release date: 14.10.22]
Killer Kings are guitarist, Tristan Avakian and vocalist, Gregory Lynn Hall. Two names you will immediate recognise from their well documented (in Melodic Rock circles) involvement with near legendary bands Red Dawn, TSO, Heaven & Earth and 101 South.
The Frontiers label is well known for crossing musical distances and bringing artists together. This is clearly one that shows an astute sense of judgment.
Balancing style and substance can be challenging for a Melodic Rock band in today’s post rock world. Avakian and Hall meet the challenge head on, with a handful of key tracks showing a a razor edged sharpness in the writing and a clear eyed focus on arrangement and delivery.
Throughout, Avakian’s sturdily melodic axework and Hall’s flinty edged vocals spark off each other in an almost unbroken series of timeless melodic hard rock songs.
The good love gone bad story in the title track, ‘Burn For Love’ that opens the album spins out every cliché in the melodic rock book, without resorting to plagiarism or descending into parody. And in its expert appropriation of those moments we remember, it somehow becomes something new that rises above its origins.
The achingly sentimental ‘In A Different World’ and ‘Phoenix’ are instantly recognisable genre pieces, and in great melodic rock songs like ‘I Will Be Stronger’ and ‘Higher’ you will hear loud echoes of Whitesnake, Journey, John Waite, Foreigner and others too, no doubt. All gloriously reminiscent of Melodic Rock’s most hypnotic moments that he passage of time has done nothing to diminish.
The magnificently apposite closer, ‘Ain’t No End In Sight’ is only a derivative musical reference or two away from tipping over into pastiche, but thanks to Avakian and Hall’s skill, it has the strength and grace to stand tall as it sails off into the AOR tinged sunset. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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