LIBERTY N’ JUSTICE – The Cigar Chronicles Vol.2 (2013)

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As all of you already know, LIBERTY N’ JUSTICE is the All-Star project put together by Justin Murr almost twenty years ago.

Now with JK Northrup as the core force since the last album, they’re are presenting the most ambitious release by the band ever: “The Cigar Chronicles Vol. 1 & 2”.

Broken into Volume 1 & Volume 2, Murr & Northrup have assembled another who’s who of Melodic Hard Rock stars in this cavalcade of musical bliss.

It features 70 (!) guest musicians from bands like Winger, Firehouse, Slaughter, Warrant, Dokken, Foreigner, TNT, Lynch Mob, Nelson, Trixter, Great White, Keel, Guardian… just to name some.

Volume 1 follows the trend of the last 5-6 years with an array of covers, LNJ paying tribute to famous acts from different genres. We will treating this one soon on these pages.

Now let’s concentrate in the second Volume “The Originals”, featuring 13 cuts from the songwriting team of Justin Murr and JK Northrup (along with assistance and co-writes from a handful of others). This new set of songs bring a level of skill to this LnJ collection that has never been equalled on any previous album from this project.

These 13 tracks are strong melodic hard rockers with thick guitars, catchy choruses and some memorable melodies. There’s a definite ’80s vibe on most of the tunes, but with modern production values and a kicking sound.

From the start, the first permanent Liberty N’ Justice drummer Michael Feighan (plays on almost all songs) thunders in opener “Devil His Dues”, and it is clear Liberty N’ Justice has stepped up their game. The production is crisp and clean giving a distinct voice to each of the instruments involved in a manner not heard on a full LnJ project before. The huge backing vocals are a perfect compliment to the exceptional lead vocals of Derrick LeFevre – the former frontman for Lillian Axe, and the lead guitar work of Vic Rivera is sweet and powerful on this kickin’ rocker that sets a high bar on the disc.

Next track “The Greatest” features the vocal debut of permanent LnJ vocalist David Cagle. His smooth yet husky driving tonality fits in the LNJ mold perfectly. Slickly produced, the song itself is pure LNJ, hooky edgy melodic and upbeat.

Gunnar Nelson of his namesake band, Nelson, takes center-stage next on “Cupid’s Gonna Bleed”. An outstanding uptempo number with a slight modern approach featuring Steve Brown from Trixter launching into a tasty melodic solo that will have listeners sitting up and taking notice as few times can I recall him ripping through a solo like this in his main band.

Eric Dover of Slash’s Snakepit slows things down for the first time on this album with “Under Construction” and he gives a gritty, emotion-laden performance on this track that also pairs the long-toothed Great White guitarist Mark Kendall, with Jaguar Blaze axe-slinger Ian Keith Hafner. If this was 1987, lighters would be burning bright all over an arena somewhere as this song echoed to a close.

Ted Poley of Danger Danger picks the pace up again with “Been There Done That”. Again, big layers of backing vocals lend themselves to the chorus and Richard Kendrick (Straitjacket Smile) packs a punch on his solo heading into the final chorus of the track.

“Grace” slow down things again, but not as a typical ballad. This commercial melodic cut delivers a surprising guitar solo from Mark Slaughter. Formerly known for his piercingly high vocal style, Slaughter shows that he is no slouch on the guitar here, as he handled both the main and outro with class. As it stands, this track already packs a vocal wallop as former Unruly Child Philip Bardowell trades off vocal duties with German vocal legend, Michael Bormann of Jaded Heart. Truly an amazing piece of music.

“Sucker Punched” is an interesting number that features a truly amazing, completely unheralded guitar hero in the form of one Mr. Xander Demos. Along with Jerry Dixon of Warrant fame, both deliver an aggressive-yet-still-melodic hard rocker that also showcases the vocal talents of Hotel Diablo’s Rick Stitch.

“Broken Bones” features yet another vocalist I had never heard in one Mr. Giancarlo Floridia of the band Faithsedge. He has a Sebastian Bach-meets-Jamie Rowe style that works well with this hard rocker that has a surprising hot guest guitar solo from country-rocker Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters.

Now arrives the fully recorded version of “Sin”, the last known recording from former Warrant frontman Jani Lane. We have already been treated to a heart-wrenching acoustic version of this song on the previous Liberty N’ Justice release Hell Is Coming To Breakfast, but I knew that this version was the one that Justin, JK, and the rest really wanted people to hear. As it is, Jani Lane’s vocals are every bit as haunting and soul-scarring here as they were in the acoustic version, but with the extra power of a properly amped-up Bill Leverty (Firehouse) and Keri Kelli (who has played for everyone), this song reaches a level I did not know was possible for it.

“Give ‘Em A Light” brings out yet another stellar vocal performance, this time from one of my all-time favorites, Paul Shortino (King Kobra / Rough Cutt / Quiet Riot). Shortino’s blues-soaked, life-lived vocal delivery is the perfect compliment to this driving rocker that also features his pal Dave Kenzerling of King Kobra on lead guitar. This lighter-hearted number is the perfect pick-me-up to follow “Sin”, and is strong enough in its performance to not be overshadowed by the previous track.

Louis St. August of the under-appreciated melodic Boston rock band MASS takes the mic for the next track, “Daddy Long Legs”. Tim Gaines of Stryper handles the bass (with JK Northrup on guitar and drums) on this funny track perfectly tongue-in-cheek and delightfully light-hearted. Mr. Murr’s ode to the song’s subject is a good one with a catchy chorus and some excellent vocal work, both out front and in the backing department.

Speaking of Justin Murr, his penchant for film rears its head again on “The Cigar Chronicles”. On the precious CD the listener got to feast their ears on Murr’s ode to the Bruce Willis Die Hard series of movies. This time, Stallone’s Rocky character is lifted straight from the first movie as, after having his face is beaten to a swollen, bruised mess, Rocky begs his trainer “I can’t see, you gotta open my eyes. Cut me, Mick”. In this lyrical incarnation, Ron Keel handles the Rocky character’s line in over the top Keel-the band vocal fashion and swagger in this song about not giving up when life gets hard.

New Great White’s singer Terry Ilous and Hardline’s Alessandro Del Vecchio provide the bombastic voices in closer “Tomorrow”, a big, inspiring ballad, that really has a full band feel to it, as Ron Wisko from The Storm / Foreigner / David Lee Roth Band handles the big drum sound here, with former Bloodgood guitar hero PK Mitchell tackling the melodic guitar solos.

A really nice way to close the disc, this song is by no means a leftover from the recording sessions and is not buried at the end as a sign of weakness. I look at it as a way to wrap the album back around to the beginning in one big, nearly perfect loop.

“The Cigar Chronicles Vol. 2” features the best pack of original songs ever penned by Justin Murr & Co. Songwriting, arrangements and musicianship are at a serious premium across the board, something we come to expect with the all talented people involved.

This is a truly complete musical experience featuring hooky rockers and emotional ballads, marrying all great things about Melodic Hard Rock past and present with it’s modern touches and some fine humour.

Everything works here… and this is only ‘Half’ of “The Cigar Chronicles” release.

Stay tuned for the other CD.

The Cigar Chronicles Vol.2

The Originals

01. “Devil His Dues”

Derrick LeFevre (formerly of Lillian Axe), Vic Rivera (Crunch), Michael Feighan (White Cross) & Barry Graul (Mercy Me / White Cross)

02. “The Greatest”

David Cagle, Mark Allen Lanoue (Chasing Karma / Biloxi) & Brad Stetler

03. “Cupids Gonna Bleed”

Gunnar Nelson (Nelson), Steve Brown (Trixter) & Barry Carl (Rockapella)

04. “Under Construction”

Eric Dover (Slash’s Snakepit), Mark Kendall (Great White), Ian Keith Hafner (Jaguar Blaze) & Eric Ragno

05. “Been There Done That”

Ted Poley (Danger Danger) & Richard Kendrick (Straitjacket Smile)

06. “Grace”

Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart / Rain / Charade), Phillip Bardowell (Unruly Child) & Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)

07. “Sucker Punched”

Rick Stitch (Hotel Diablo), Jerry Dixon (Warrant) & Xander Demos

08. “Broken Bones”

Giancarlo Floridia (Faithsedge), Greg Martin (The Kentucky Headhunters) & Chad Stewart (Faster Pussycat)

09. “Sin”

Jani Lane, Bill Leverty (Firehouse) & Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper)

10. “Give Em’ A Light”

Paul Shortino (King Kobra / Quiet Riot / Rough Cutt) & Dave Henzerling (King Kobra / Steelshine)

11. “Daddy Long Legs”

Louis St August (Mass) & Tim Gaines (Stryper)

12. “Cut Me Mick”

Ron Keel (Keel) & Michael Phillips (Deliverance/The Sacrificed)

13. “Tomorrow”

Terry Ilous (Great White / XYZ), Ron Wikso (Foreigner, The Storm), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Eden’s Curse) & PK Mitchell

Justin Murr: Bass, Keyboards

JK Northrup: Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Bass, Drums

Eric Ragno: Keyboards

Michael Feighan: Drums

Background vocals: Phil Vincent, Richard Kendrick, Giancarlo Floridia, Michael Stover, Frankie Cleaver, Bryan Cole

BUY IT !

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cigar-Chronicles-Vol/dp/B00B8X49WS