AUDIO PORN – Midnight Confessions (2015)
* No cuts
AUDIO PORN are from Canada and this “Midnight Confessions” is their second effort after the debut album released four years ago.
Led by guitarist / producer Jeff Westlake, arguably best known for his work with Hydrogyn, alongside vocalist and former Jezebel’s Kiss singer / songwriter Azriel St. Michael, the record introduces new members, John Cardillino on drums and RC Ricci on bass both of whom play their part on what is an enjoyable outing.
Audio Porn is a different beast than Westlake’s more modern work with Hydrogyn. The music here is inspired by Eighties melodic hard rock with a touch of sleazy. However, there’s an updated sound mostly thanks to the thick-handed wrestler guitar riffs, and the leads which are quite varied and spicy throughout.
St. Michael is straight on in his vocal delivery, his lyrics having good hooks with music emphasizing them.
The main thing which is noticeable throughout is the similarity to Bon Jovi even on the heavier songs such as “Heaven’s Burning Down Tonight”.
But also I find some winks to Danger Danger’s Four the Hard Way ’80s album (“I’ll Be Your Man”)
From the opening track “This Ain’t Paradise” with its cutting riff and lyric full of laid back attitude this second release from Audio Porn starts off sounding like early Bon Jovi with more balls. And a little darker.
“Sin” that follows is a similar melodic fare, just as packed with hooks and with just the same attitude.
If you can take the tongue in cheek lyrical content, what you’ll find is an album that is just that cut above with songs like the opener, the energetic “Not Saying Sorry” and “Freak Like You” leading the charge.
There’s a decent stab at Aerosmith’s “Lord Of The Thighs” and a surprising couple of live bonus tracks (I though Audio Porn were studio-based only) on a perfectly decent hard yet melodic album.
All the way through I was thinking that this could possibly the kind of record Bon Jovi should make after a couple of decades of not really being a rock band.
On “Midnight Confessions” we find are some really good tunes strongly influenced by the ’80s American scene, yet with an updated sound and few twists here and there.
Check them out, rocks fine.
01. This Ain’t Paradise
02. Sin
03. Freak Like You
04. Lord Of The Thighs
05. Not Saying Sorry
06. I’ll Be Your Man
07. Working It Out
08. Steeple
09. Heaven’s Burning Down Tonight
Bonus Tracks
10. Break Me (Live)
11. Drive (Live)
Jeff Westlake – guitars
Azriel St. Michael – vocals
RC Ricci – bass
John Cardillino – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Midnight-Confessions-Audio-Porn-Music/dp/B00PO515Q4
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