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Likened to Skid Row, Warrant, Black ‘n’ Blue style,
the Gun Shy’s re-release of its 1994 After Dark is
so much more than even their new label (Perris Records) describes
them to be. This album actually goes many different places and offers
solid music under several stylistic banners.
Along
with the original’s release of eight songs, the band included
live versions of four of those and a demo version of another, a
couple of unreleased tracks and finally a cover of the Black Sabbath
classic N.I.B (16 total).
The
first song “Helluva Time,” is precisely as described,
as the Philadelphia five deliver an ‘80s glam-metal style
song reminiscent of Skid Row but with much better bass guitar. In
fact, the signature mark on this above average album is the bass
play of Frank Richards.
The
lead guitar on this album is solid as Dan Lerro, Vinny Cole and
Tommy Krash deliver clear, high-pitched solos as well as intermingling
many lead riffs, especially in the power ballad, “Don’t
Go Away,” and “Hard Life.” Their guitar work has
been compared to everyone from Van Halen to Lynch. Stopping short
from those lofty aims, it is a solidly crafted arrangement.
The
guitar saves many of the tracks’ weak lyrics and poor vocals,
such the last track when Krash rips “Christeen.” The
live tracks, while they more powerful, are not as clear with “Don’t
Go Away,” being the best of the four. The cover of “N.I.B”
is pretty weak, but for Pete’s sake, it was a Sabbath track.
Who could do it better than Sabbath?
Bands
Line-up: TOMMY KRASH * guitar/vocals, DAN LERRO * lead guitar/vox,
VINNY COLE * lead vox/guitar, ALAN HOKE * drums/vox, FRANK RICHARDS
* bass/vocals
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