Released by: Bird’s Robe Records/MGM
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Links: https://bigredfiretruck.bandcamp.com/album/trouble-in-paradise
Line Up:
Digby (Guitar and Lead Vocals)
Ben Frank (Guitar)
Pete Grant (Drums and Vocals)
Nick Frazier (Bass)
Tracklist:
1. Neon Sunsents
2. Trouble in Paradise
3. Love Bite
4. Pychotropic Thunnder
5. Miami Skies
6. Hot Summer Nights
Hold your horses, because here is BIG RED FIRE TRUCK from Sydney, Australia. They were formed in 2016 by Digby (Guitar and Lead Vocals), who gathered 3 more musicians around him (Ben Frank (Guitar), Pete Grant (Drums and Vocals) and Nick Frazier (Bass) to pay homage to their shared love for 80s Hardrock. Trouble In Paradise is their 2nd EP so far, and I must say I am quite impressed! They simply blow away the FRONTIERS RECORDS wannabee 80s productions, because BIG RED FIRE TRUCK sounds more authentic and the 5 (+ intro) songs on this new EP CD are an absolute winner for the fans of modern 80s retro Hardrockacts like CRAZY LIXX, RECKLESS LOVE, H.E.A.T., THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA, WICKED, etc. etc. but recall even more the days of ICON, KNOW ILLUSION, SLYBOYZ, DOKKEN, FIREHOUSE, DANGER DANGER, MELIDIAN, VALENTINE, etc. etc.
Digby has a great voice which is perfectly suitable for this kind of rock, and the melodies of all the songs are very catchy and memorable, while the guitar riffs, solo’s and licks are all you want to hear in an 80s rock flash memory, and thankfully the production is top-notch as well. BIRD’S ROBE RECORDS is their label, and usually we have prog, instrumental complex post-rock or metal orientated releases on that Australian label, but here we have pure 80s Hardrock!
It al starts with the synthwave intro Neon Sunsets, but when titletrack Trouble In Paradise kicks in, we are heading straight into classic lovely uptempo 80s catchy AOR/Melodic Rock at a very high level that even reminds me of legendary Aussie acts like SAFIRE, BLACK ICE, ICE TOGER, ROXUS, early AVION, etc. etc. This is exactly the way it needs to be done, including the important brilliant hooks, catchy choruses, strong vocals and soaring guitar solos! Nex song Love Bite is a somewhat tougher midtempo melodic hardrock tune that has the late 80s/early 90s groovy vibe of SOUTHGANG, the very first SKID ROW and FIREHOUSE. Psychotropic Thunder picks up the catchy uptempo 80s melodic rocksound again, and this time it is close to the very early HAREM SCAREM sound, while there is also a cool VAN HALEN guitar riff to be found. Miami Skies follows in a typical modern Scandi Melodic Rock direction, so a dead ringer for fans of H.E.A.T. and THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA.
Closing the EP is Hot Summer Nights, a fantastic uptempo melodic rocker with a killer AOR chorus a la SAFIRE, and just listen to the guitarsound, it is 80s Hair Metal Heaven! Basically, this EP includes everything you love (or hate) about the 80s. BIG RED FIRE TRUCK brings back the fun and melodies into this world, so go check them out a.s.a.p.
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 9/10
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