Though they've been together since 2004, Once Upon a Time is only the third release from Swiss hard rock act Black Diamonds, but listening to their new album for AOR Heaven, you'd be easily fooled into thinking that this was some long lost artifact from 1987. With hooks aplenty and a boatload of crispy & crunchy guitar riffs, Once Upon a Time is a treasure trove of '80s arena rock cliches, but I mean that in a good way. Think vintage Bon Jovi, Ratt, Poison, Motley Crue, Saigon Kick, Def Leppard, and KISS, all rolled into one, and out pops Black Diamonds. I mean, every song here, and I mean EVERY SONG, contains a killer hook that screams 'hit video on MTV' back in their heyday, with some of the best being "Love Stick Love", "The Ghost and the Shadow", "Romeo & Juliet", "Vampires of the Night", and the raucous "Not Going Home". Of course, Black Diamonds won't win many awards for originality, but who cares when they are able to deliver such catchy, fun party rock like this. And, for all the ladies in the house, check out "This is a Love Story", an upbeat power ballad that closes out the album in fine fashion. For all you folks out there who can't get enough of '80s rock, here's a band who will take you right back in time to those glory years. Well done.
Track Listing
01_Tales Untold
02_The Ghost And The Shadow
03_Love Stick Love
04_Romeo & Juliet
05_Pieces Of A Broken Dream
06_Love Lies Loneliness
07_Thrillride
08_Vampires Of The Night
09_Not Going Home
10_Hard To Let Go
11_Years
12_This Is A Love Story
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