Kissin' Dynamite: Money, Sex & Power

Even with some really rather impressive reviews for their first couple of albums, Steel Of Swabia and Addicted To Metal, I've previously dismissed Kissin' Dynamite as another lacklustre Sleaze outfit. Oh how looks can be deceiving! I really should know by now to give a band's music a fair crack before consigning them to the also ran pile, but what with the sub-par Kiss look the band sported on ATM and the sunset strip name, I thought I had this lot sussed. WRONG! Exploding into view with the mighty title track to album number three Money, Sex & Power, Kissin' Dynamite sport a sound closer to the recent Primal Fear album than Vain and while it is the start of an eclectic journey through ten remarkably sharp songs, the early, impressive quality is repeated throughout.

Sound-wise though Kissin' Dynamite appear to be an act far from happy repeating themselves, with mighty Metal, Melodic Rock, Classic Rock, Trad Metal, Euro Power Metal and yes, the odd hint of Sleaze, alternating to make an album where the skip button never comes close to getting into play. Debuting while the five-piece were still in their teens, KD are still young pups, but these guys have definitely spent the required hours honing their craft and studying their peers, resulting in an album bursting with influences, but ultimately healthily unique. "I Will Be King" knocks things up a gear, losing the harder edge, to introduce a spiralling riff that kicks up some serious dust. An almost Speed Metal chorus melody accompanies one of the Sleazier vibes on "Sex Is War", whereas the ultra-catchy "Club 27", celebrating the departed Rock Stars who checked out at that age takes a stroll down sunset strip for real. Although the short, blistering guitar solo catches the eye on the way. Everyone from Accept, Maiden, AC/DC to Guns & Roses, among others, are lyrically name checked during the stomping highlight that is the humorous, if respectful "Dinosaurs Are Still Alive", whereas "She's A Killer" falls somewhere between Axl's mob and Brother Firetribe!

Urgent guitars and the ever present gang backing vocals make for a punchy delight on "Sleaze Deluxe", although the Germanic Metal of "Ego Shooter", well the boys are German after all, borrows heavily from Scorpions and Accept. "Six Feet Under" closes things out in quirky, semi-acoustic style, proving that Kissin' Dynamite can reign themselves in if they feel like it. It may be a surprisingly restrained ending to a bombastic, attitude snorting album, but it is a classy track nonetheless. Vocally Hannes Braun brings a more Power Metal edge to all of the songs on M,S&P, giving Jim Muller and Ande Braun's riffs a heftier whack than most bands in this sphere of music. It is a weapon he uses well, but with sterling rhythm section work from Seffen Halle on bass and Andreas Schnitzer on drums, also beefing up the band's sound Money, Sex & Power feels a whole lot less throwaway or generic than many good bands trying to kick out these styles manage to.

Big, ballsy and full of attitude, this is what good time, hard hitting Rock music is meant to sound like!

Track Listing
1. Money, Sex & Power
2. I Will Be King
3. Operation Supernova
4. Sex Is War
5. Club 27
6. Dinosaurs Are Still Alive
7. She's A Killer
8. Sleaze Deluxe
9. Ego-Shooter
10. Six Feet Under

Added: April 25th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Kissin' Dynamite Official Web Site
Hits: 2744
Language: english

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