Platinum Overdose are not only a revival, but this is true, original and contemporary Glam Metal in the 2020’s decade, it makes you wanna jump, do air-guitar and headbanging while listening.
Written by: Dave T
ARTIST: Platinum Overdose
ALBUM: Back For The Thrill
LABEL: DDR Music Group/Tragedy Academy Records
SERIAL: DDR150/TAR003
YEAR: 2020
CD INFO: Discogs Info List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Steve Philbrook – vocals * Rick Mead – guitar * Matt Thorr – guitar * Lance V. – bass
Additional Musicians: Blake Hastings – guitar (01) * Glen W. – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Psycho Suzy * 02 No Way Out * 03 Rockin’ America * 04 Give The Night Away * 05 Back In Your City * 06 In Love With A Junkie * 07 Rock Brigade * 08 Nights That Never End
RATING: 85/100
WEBLINKS: Official Website | FB Link | Bandcamp
Background
Sophomore effort for the LA Glam Metal band Platinum Overdose led by Lance V whose filiatory data we’ve already disclosed on their 2019 debut, also reviewed here at Glory Daze.
The Songs
Eight songs in under 30 minutes, pure rock with one hot cover included and no ballads. Sounds a bit like Kiss‘s ‘Dressed To Kill’ to me. Although there’s no such an anthem like ‘Rise Up’ off the debut, the energy is higher just like the Duracell rabbit, without a single drop in quality as the case slightly was for their previous release.
Singer Steve Philbrook once again delivers a Sebastian Bach-inspired performance, only even more powerful this time, while the band rescues the lost art of catchy backing vocals. Bright in your face guitars and the melodic sensibilities of Dokken, Poison and early Guns N’ Roses complete the picture.
‘Psycho Suzy’ opens bursting out like an unleashed bull with a wealth of pounding drums, fat ringing guitars and melodies while ‘No Way Out’ recaptures that vibe of highly melodic yet heavy midtempos with a superb chorus. ‘Rockin’ America’ is an anthemic road song catchy to the utmost followed by another melodic midtempo in the form of ‘Give The Night Away’. The flow of the album is impeccable, alternating hard hitters with more relaxed ones.
To stress the observation about the flow, ‘Back In Your City’ follows and is arguably the best song. Written by Aeriel Stiles (Pretty Boy Floyd) and even more anthemic than ‘Rockin’ America’, this hedonistic ode to a touring band features high-pitched vocals, hot riffs and a quick nod to Van Halen‘s ‘Runnin’ With The Devil’ before the guitar solo.
‘In Love With A Junkie’ has a Punk edge to it in the insistent guitar riff, yet the chorus is highly melodic. Rock Brigade is a high-octane Def Leppard‘s cover off the latter’s debut, 1980’s ‘On Through the Night’. A real good, honest job that includes the handclap section after the guitar solo. ‘Nights That Never End’ finishes the album in a playful mood.
In Summary
Platinum Overdose are not only a revival, but this is true, original and contemporary Glam Metal in the 2020’s decade. It makes you wanna jump, do air-guitar and headbanging while listening. Last but not least, it makes you wanna write about it. Such is my case.
They promised one album a year. They’ve kept their promise so far, and if it is this quality, bring it out, I’m eager for more. On a side note, the band was deemed as essential by Christopher P. Hilton in his 2020 book ‘The Spectacular Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Hair Metal’.
Video
Back In Your City
Psycho Suzi
Rockin’ America
