We've all heard the saying "you can't always judge a book by its cover" probably a million times in our lives, and it's amazing how often I'll get a CD in for review and take one look at the cover and band photo and think one thing, and get the total opposite. Such was the case with Addicted to Metal, the new release from young German band Kissin' Dynamite. One look at their photo on the back of the CD and I was convinced that they were sure to be another 80's retro sleaze/glam metal band in the tradition of Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, and the like, but once I heard the heavy sounds of the title track coming out of my speakers, my opinion quickly changed.
Looks aside, these guys play some lean & mean early 80's styled classic metal mixed with European power metal, somewhere along the lines of Scorpions, Accept (Udo even lends his vocal talents to the title track), Primal Fear, Whitesnake, and even a little of early Edguy. Plenty of crunchy metal & hard rock guitar riffs from Ande Braun and Jim Muller to be found throughout this fun album, especially on tunes like "Supersonic Killer", the Scorpions influenced "Run For Your Life", "Hysteria", and the kick ass anthem "Metal Nation". Lead singer Johannes Braun has a powerful voice, as he handles both ends of the spectrum just fine, whether it be the massive metal attack of "In the Name of the Iron Fist" or the tender ballad "Why Can't You Hear Me".
The only real missfire here is the cover of Damn Yankees' "High Enough"-it's actually played quite flawlessly, but it sounds more like Bon Jovi trying to do Damn Yankees than Kissin' Dynamite trying to do Damn Yankees, and just sounds out of place here amongst all the bone crunching power metal metal and kick ass classic metal.
Overall, Addicted to Metal is a lot of fun, and a real surprise considering their hair metal appearance and KISS-meets-Anvil cover art. Germany has a new player on the scene folks...you heard it here first!
Track Listing
1. Addicted To Metal
2. Run For Your Life
3. Supersonic Killer
4. High Enough
5. Love Me Hate Me
6. Hysteria
7. All Against All
8. In the Name of the Iron Fist
9. Assassins of Love
10. Why Can't You Hear Me
11. We Want More
12. Metal Nation
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