There’s a lot to like about this L.A based outfit Rox Diamond. Heavy as a hippo, but with a glossy sheen not unlike the band Lion but with keyboards.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Rox Diamond
ALBUM: Rox Diamond
LABEL: Active Records
SERIAL: CD ATV 25
YEAR: 1992
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Paul Daniels – vocals, keyboards * Kevin Bach – guitars * Ricky Falco – bass * Dwain Miller – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Heart Of Mine * 02 Nothing I Won’t Do * 03 Familiar Strangers * 04 Never Too Late * 05 Forever Yours * 06 Get The Lead Out (Of My Heart) * 07 You’re Not The Only One * 08 Lovin’ You * 09 One Way Street * 10 Face To Face * 11 You’ll Get What’s Coming
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
There’s a lot to like about this L.A based outfit Rox Diamond. Heavy as a hippo, but with a glossy sheen not unlike the band Lion but with keyboards. Primarily a vehicle for keyboardist Paul Daniels, this band started life off known as Casanova, but as there was already another well known band by the same name out of Germany, a name change to Rox Diamond was in order.
Enlisting the talented Kevin Bach, a guitar slinger in the mould of Doug Aldrich and George Lynch, then adding ex Keel drummer Dwain Miller, the guys landed a deal with Music For Nations offshoot label Active.
The Songs
Now, it doesn’t take long to realise just who is the major influence for Paul throughout this album. Being a singer and keyboardist himself, Steve Walsh (Kansas, Streets) readily springs to mind. But in his own right, Paul is a very talented individual. Some of these songs are so good, you’ll remember them for good long while.
Opening up with the sonic blast of ‘Heart Of Mine’, then onto the very Dream Theater-ish ‘Familiar Strangers’, rolling into the sublime ballad ‘Never Too Late’, you get the impression that within the space of a few songs, we have a superb band, and a superb album. And for a good majority, you’d be right. ‘One Way Street’ is as moody as ‘You’ll Get What’s Coming’ is rabid. The latter could very well be Dokken‘s ‘Turn On The Action’ Part 2.
‘Get The Lead Out (Of My Heart)’ revisits our friends from Huntingdon Beach, the aforementioned Leatherwolf. For the most part the songs are heavy, melodic, and very much upfront in the mix. Bach’s solo’s get a special mention too, very clean, nice tone, and tasteful (as only a guitarist will know!).
In Summary
For me personally, there are very few weak points on this platter, and it was released at a time when grunge was just taking off, so Rox Diamond didn’t really get the plaudits they deserved. Look for it in the bins, or on Ebay.
Rox Diamond on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
