New Frontiers Records acquisition Animal Drive hail from Croatia, and feature the impressive vocal talents of one Dino Jelusic, who was picked to join the US touring faction of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, where he became friendly with fellow singer Jeff Scott Soto, who then recommended him to the popular Italian record label. The rest of Animal Drive are comprised of guitarist Ivan Keller, Roko Rokindja Nikolic on bass, and Adrian Boric on drums, and together they have put together this potent new album, titled Bite.
A pretty heavy album, Bite takes bits of Skid Row, Symphony X, Pantera, Whitesnake, and Dream Theater for a sound that is melodic yet quite pulverizing, Jelusic's commanding vocal presence perfectly matched with Keller's monster riffs and screaming solos. Dino has a bit of Russell Allen as well as Soto in his potent, soaring voice, and he's absolutely he right fit for these energetic metal & hard rock mashers. "Goddamn Marathon", "Tower of Lies (I Walk Alone)", and "Had Enough" bust out of the gate here with enough force to take down an army, Keller's superhuman riffing and scorching solos providing the metallic overdrive for the rock solid rhythm team and Jelusic's histrionic vocals. Other standouts here include the chunka-chunka pounder "Lights of the Damned", the thumping groover "Time Machine", the progressive minded "Deliver Me", and the sleazy, Southern styled blues-metal ripper "Devil Took My Beer Again".
Top notch musical performances, incredible vocals, and songs that are massively heavy yet melodic, Bite pushes all the right buttons and signals the arrival of another noteworthy band on the ever growing roster of Frontiers Records.
Track Listing
01 Goddamn Marathon 5:53
02 Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone) 4:24
03 Had Enough 3:42
04 Hands of Time 4:32
05 Lights Of The Damned 4:00
06 Time Machine 5:24
07 Father 4:35
08 Fade Away 4:08
09 Carry On 4:05
10 Devil Took My Beer Again 4:25
11 Deliver Me 6:56
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