Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2023 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
September 2023
- Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
- Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
- Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
- Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
- Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
- The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
- Vega: Battlelines
- Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
- Primal Fear: Code Red
- Eclipse: Megalomanium
- Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
- Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)
August 2023
- Hurricane: Reconnected
- U.D.O.: Touchdown
- Streetlight: Ignition
- Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
- Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
- Rian: Wings
- Icon Of Sin: Legends
- Lancer: Tempest
- King Kobra: We Are Warriors
- Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
- Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
- Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose
July 2023
- Turkish Delight: Volume Two
- Winterstorm: Everfrost
- Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
- James Robledo: Broken Soul
- Houston: Relaunch III
- All For Metal: Legends
- Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
- Bloodbound: Tales From The North
- Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
- Degreed: Public Address
June 2023
- Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
- Midnite City: In At The Deep End
- Pyramaze: Bloodlines
- Shakra: Invincible
- Vypera: Race Of Time
- Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
- Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
- Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
- The Defiants: Drive
- Ray Alder: II
- Art Nation: Inception
- False Memories: Hybrid Ego System
Wild Side: Speed Devil
Wild Side: Speed Devil
Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 3.0/5.0
Escape Music
www.myspace.com/wildsidetheband
www.wildsidetheband.com
Review: Craig Hartranft, 05.17.2010
Norwegian rockers Wild Side return in 2010 with their sophomore release, Speed Devil, with a new vocalist and second guitarist on board. Echoing the music that made the Sunset Strip famous in the 1980's, Wild Side could be the doppelganger, if not a curious imitation, of Motley Crue. Certainly, new singer Joachim Berntsen is cut out of the same cloth as Vince Neil. With eyes closed, you may wonder if the band didn't audition until the found that signature voice. Even the music is reminiscent of that era, generally, and Crue more specifically, especially on the songs Live Forever and Wild One.
However, the distraction, and therefore general disappointment, here is that few songs truly 'pop' or have the punch to grab your attention. Without doubt the songs are well-composed with generous melodies, hooks, and excellent guitar solos. Yet, with the exception of the aforementioned and possibly Eagle and Speed Devil, Speed Devil is honestly derivative by definition. Even cranked in the car, I never felt like speeding; now, that's telling. Nevertheless, Wild Side's Speed Devil captures the mood and formula of 80's melodic hard rock. But that formula could be their undoing without some more chutzpah in the tunes in the future.
In Short
Wild Side's Speed Devil captures the mood and formula of 80's melodic rock. But that formula could be their undoing without some more chutzpah in the tunes in the future.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
Album of the Week
Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]