From recollection going back to the era, Krokus were castigated for the move to melodic rock/AOR but in hindsight many years later and I’m listening to it with a fresh set of ears, and I kind of like it.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Krokus
ALBUM: Change Of Address
LABEL: Arista
SERIAL: 257 647 (Europe, UK), ALB-8402 (USA)
YEAR: 1986
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Switzerland
LINEUP: Marc Storace – vocals * Fernando Von Arb – guitar * Mark Kohler – rhythm guitar * Jeff Klaven – drums, percussion * Tommy Keiser – bass
TRACK LISTING: 01 Now (All Through The Night) * 02 Hot Shot City * 03 Schools Out * 04 Let This Love Begin * 05 Burning Up The Night * 06 Say Goodbye * 07 World On Fire * 08 Hard Luck Hero * 09 Long Way From Home
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
The mid 80’s was a funny old time for some melodic rock stalwarts, some put on the scrap heap only after a few years when considered world beating heroes. Krokus would get lumped into this scenario. On this album release, the band moved fully into AOR territory.
Probably not a good thing if you really liked their heavy metal boogie style, but it will be right up your alley if you’re into the pink and fluffy keyboard sound, as I was. From recollection going back to the era, the band were castigated for this move but in hindsight many years later and I’m listening to it with the fresh set of ears, and I kind of like it.
The Songs
The guiding hand of Tom Werman leads the band into the opening chamber of ‘Now (All Through The Night)’, and it’s here you can detect the first traces of keyboards, similar to all our other favourite bands from that same time frame.
‘Hot Shot City’ is pock-marked with synth stabs along with a growling riff and a modern sounding pulse driven bass, which waters down the sound somewhat. Next up.. Ding a ling ling, a cover of Alice Cooper chestnut ‘School’s Out’, I can’t decide whether I like this or not, it is what it is. Sounds OK I guess, but admittedly this track has been done to death.
One of the better power ballads from 1986 is this one ‘Let This Love Begin’. It reminds me of Great White and I’ll say it sounds like nothing Krokus have ever done previously. Getting back to familiar territory is ‘Burning Up The Night’, you can hear the guitar riffs and tone from past albums though the faint whiff of keyboards provides the difference.
I like the arrangement for ‘Say Goodbye’. The unusual oriental guitar lines and anthemic chorus subsiding into a folky solo section makes this a standout for me. Hard to know what to make of ‘World In Fire’, it tries to be heavy but the overall arrangement and production is just a touch too Americanized.
‘Hard Luck Hero’ chugs away nicely, though all traces of their boogified metal has been replaced by something akin to Jeff Paris. Not a bad thing, but certainly not genuine Krokus. ‘Long Way From Home’ winds things up. Twin guitars are a feature while Storace is in top form. This track sounds like something off the first Wrabit ‘Wrough And Wready’. Strange but true.
In Summary
Surprisingly, the songwriting credits are all due to the band. It’s a pity they couldn’t hold it together into 1987 to consolidate their efforts (they were labeless at the time, see below), considering what Whitesnake and Def Leppard would deliver next.
What followed for Krokus into the late 80’s was a live album later in the year ‘Alive And Screamin’ after which long term label Arista pulled the pin. They returned in 1988 for their next studio album ‘Heart Attack’ for new label MCA, but by then any momentum gained had been lost, the band and the label lasting just the sole album.
Krokus on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
