(CD, Nuclear Blast, 2011)
Looking closely at the brave new CHROME DIVISION album, it’s quite obvious that the glorious Snaggletooth has been replaced by the mighty Bulldog who has hanged a dice and a billiards ball in the heavy chains, instead of the MOTÖRHEAD-esque skull earring. The Norwegian dirty rock ‘n’ roll quintet is back with Shagrath (DIMMU BORGIR, in case the bells aren’t ringing yet) behind the steering wheel but with Shady Blue (SUSPERIA) holding the mic, since Eddie Guz was to leave the band 2 years ago. The success of the previous two albums, “Doomsday Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Booze, Broads And Beelzebub” of 2006 and 2008 respectively, following faithfully MOTÖRHEAD’s steps, was expected, so this time we have to see (and listen) if this sequence will persist.
The opening “Bulldogs Unleashed” reveals that CHROME DIVISION dare to change their music direction (not much though, no worries) and create a more American sound, similar to HELLYEAH or BLACK LABEL SOCIETY for example. The new singer hasn’t that Lemmy-ish phlegm in his throat, standing though more in Chad Gray’s shoes. The guitar work is straight, solid and bombastic, although you are not gonna find something different and extraordinary during the 10-track, 42 minute album. Songs like “Join The Ride” and “Zombies & Monsters” demonstrate the new-discoverable love for W.A.S.P., judging by the “Wild Child”-esque intro in the first song and the chainsaw bridge of the second (it could be characterized as a JACKYL trick, too), since Tony White’s drumming ‘stinks’ Steve Riley’s style during the entire album. The brilliant exceptions from the album’s repetition are the harmonica-able “The Magic Man” and the next “Long Distance Call Girl” that carry a bluesy, southern atmosphere inside, sounding like VOLBEAT take guitar lessons from John Campbell (hell yeah!), while the attempt to cover Johnny Cash’s “Ghost Rider In The Sky” sounds quite fresh and aggressive, without being something special and pioneer though in the end.
Unfortunately, CHROME DIVISION had to deal with the copycat attitude of their past sooner or later, so in “3rd Round Knockout” created an unleashed ‘monster’ full of raw rock ‘n’ roll aggression and well-played/spitted riffs, lacking though originality and the band’s personal ideas/ inspiration. However, “3rd Round Knockout” is a decent album, much well-listened accompanying to a bottle of alcohol as it is attended and then, you are gonna have a great time and a banged neck for sure. Besides, another one good thing coming from this album is that Europe, finally, discovers its own HELLYEAH. If this might be a positive thing after all...
“Satisfy my soul
satisfy it with alcohol
I’m all dressed up
and ready to roll”
6/10
Links:
www.ChromeDivision.Com
www.MySpace.Com/ChromeDivision
www.FaceBook.Com/ChromeDivision
www.Twitter.Com/ChromeDivision
Tracklist:
01. Bulldogs Unleashed
02. 7 G-Strings
03. Join The Ride
04. Unholy Roller
05. Zombies & Monsters
06. Fight (Rumble and Roll)
07. The Magic Man
08. Long Distance Call Girl
09. Ghost Rider In The Sky
10. Satisfy My Soul
Lineup:
Shady Blue - Vocals
Shagrath - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Ricky Black - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Burn Luna - Bass, Backing Vocals
Tony White - Drums