KILLER BEE – Evolutionary Children (2013)
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Swedish hard rockers KILLER BEE are releasing today their brand new album “Evolutionary Children”. And what a hell of an album it is.
We were quite impressed by their last year’s comeback CD (presented on this blog), but this one… it’s a real blast.
Killer Bee released 3 albums during the nineties, toured all over Europe and shared stages with the biggest artists at some of the biggest festivals. Unfortunately, an unkind destiny intervened: management disputes and production company rip-offs left the band with a bitter taste in their mouths.
After 15 years Killer Bee re-fueled the engines last year and now are on full gear. “Evolutionary Children” offers solid, old fashioned Hard Rock in the way it used to be. But Killer Bee is not your typical band in the genre.
Musically, these guys combine traditional hard rock sounds – bluesy and hard rocking, like classic era Whitesnake and perhaps some mid ’80s Deep Purple just to give you some examples, but coated with just enough sleazy / hair metal to give their songs an extra bite with a few curve balls thrown in for good measure.
At times, they sound like Helix, not strange as singer Brian Frank is Canadian, and surprisingly (or not), “Evolutionary Children” first video is directed by Brent Doerner (ex-Helix).
As said, Killer Bee is not your typical hard rock act. They have chosen to open the disc with title track “Evolutionary Children”, a really great composition with a big essence and midpaced epicness, but the kind of song you usually use to close an album. So bravo to them, as they do what they want, with authority.
In contrast to the former, regarding sound and structure, “A Little Too Old” is more than Glam Metal meets Hard Rock ’80s to mid ’90s with a profound guitar sound along with the vocals pushing it hard.
Despite a straightforward production job where nothing is too showy, the element that stands out the most from this album is singer Brian Frank. Whether he’s soaring on the title track, snarling down on “Scream It” or pulling off a punchy hair metal chorus on “Got Your Number”, he’s one talented maestro who befits this skilled band immensely.
So we have classic hard rockers like “Let’s Dance”, the vivacious “Now’s The Time” (complete with Hammond) or the rip-roaring “Ride On” interspersed with more melodic (hard) rock numbers like “I’m On Fire” or the aforementioned “Got Your Number”.
As far as the ‘curve ball’ element I mentioned earlier goes, there’s also some ballads like “Dust Of An Angel” which feature orchestral elements and slide guitar, or the acoustically filled “If We Die Tomorrow” that take you right back to the power ballad era without being particularly reminiscent of any specific band.
“Evolutionary Children” shows Killer Bee expanding its taste and musical creativity towards more genres – all hard rock related – and it really works as whole.
The song material is of a high quality, varied, and both guitar players Jimmy DeLisi & Anders ‘L.A.’ Ronnblom know for sure how to play hot and catchy riffs, but for me it’s singer Brian Frank who really makes the difference with his great vocal inflections, harmonies and at times raspy delivery.
This album is prime example to others in the scene on not only how to do hard rock with flair and substance, but how to have fun while doing it. It Rocks.
Very Recommended.
01. Children Of The Evolution
02. A Little Too Old
03. All The Things You Say
04. Let’s Dance
05. Now’s The Time
06. Ride On
07. Got Your Number
08. Dust Of An Angel
09. I’m On Fire
10. Gimme A Taste
11. Maybe Baby
12. Scream It
13. If We Die Tomorrow
Brian Bee Frank – Vocals
Anders LA Ronnblom – Bass, Rhythm Guitar
Jimmy DeLisi – Guitars
Morgan Evans – Drums
Denny DeMarchi – Keyboards
BUY IT !
www.targetshop.dk/uk/314307/Killer_Bee/Evolutionary_Children
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