This is The Defiants second album, and as we know, this band is really Danger Danger with a different moniker, let’s be honest here.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: The Defiants
ALBUM: Zokusho
LABEL: Frontiers
SERIAL: FRCD958
YEAR: 2019
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA, Canada, Sweden
LINEUP: Paul Laine – vocals, guitars, co-production * Rob Marcello – lead guitar * Bruno Ravel – bass, production
Additional Musicians: Steve West – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Love Is The Killer * 02 Standing On The Edge * 03 Hollywood In Headlights * 04 Fallin’ For You * 05 Hold On Tonite * 06 Allnighter * 07 U X’d My Heart * 08 It Goes Fast * 09 Stay * 10 Alive * 11 Drink Up!
RATING: 95/100
WEBLINKS: FB Page
Background
This is the bands second album, and this time I get the privilege of reviewing The Defiants as Jeff did the first one back in 2015. As we know, this band is really Danger Danger with a different moniker, let’s be honest here. Are we complaining? Hell no, even if the four year break was four years too long!
I’ve been looking forward to this one since that debut, as I’m a big fan of Rob Marcello’s guitar playing, Bruno Ravel’s production and Paul Laine’s energy. What could be better? A couple of days ago I asked the question about the album title, the Japanese term ‘zokusho’. Which apparently means sequel. So there we go, we got an answer.
The Songs
Damn, some of these songs are simply super. If this is the pure definition of modern melodic rock, then The Defiants wear the crown. Listening to these, the template is slightly different for each song, which means there is little in the way of repetition. I’ve read elsewhere where people have suggested the first half of the album is top-loaded. Really? Didn’t they bother listening to the back-end?
True, the first few songs set the bar real high, and there’s no dispute that songs like ‘Love Is A Killer’ and the trancey and modern ‘Standing On The Edge’ make for a hot start.
The Defiants kick into party mode thanks to ‘Hollywood In Headlights’, an anthem for the summer. Headlining the show is the runaway success of ‘Fallin’ For You’, this one is really easy to digest, perfect verses and even more perfect choruses. Check out the video below.
‘Hold On Tonite’ is the closest to that marvellous Marcello Vestry CD from a decade or so ago, and is right up there among my fave tracks on board. ‘Allnighter’ is the only track I didn’t hold in the same high regard. It’s a good song for what it is, a hardened glam metal belter, but probably a bit out of place on this album, and that’s the only reason why.
‘U X’d My Heart’ with its beautiful melodic guitar intro is simply a winner throughout. Listen to this under a set of headphones for maximum impact. But what’s with that strange percussion effect? Lol. Towards the end, tunes like ‘Stay’ and the essential ‘Alive’ which rolls along on a blanket of synths and a galloping motif are both tremendous.
The finale ‘Drink Up!’ is a tribute to all those imbibers out there. This a tune that Aerosmith or Cinderella should have on their track list!
In Summary
‘Zokusho’ is bound to feature in many people’s end of year lists, as every year really needs to have an album like this out there in the market as a marker peg. I’m going to playing The Defiants quite a bit over the next few weeks, as I really want to get overly familiar with these songs. But that percussion, What the hey? lol.
The Defiants on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
