STEAMROLLER – Dead Man’s Tan [reissue] (2018)

Perhaps due to the fact of including a young Pontus Egberg (THE POODLES) into the line up, it has been reissued few days ago this early Nineties album by Swedes STEAMROLLER. Titled “Dead Man’s Tan“, the record originally was released in few European countries.

STEAMROLLER’s style is classic hard (melodic) rock in a traditional riff-fueled songs with a late ’80s / early ’90s sound in a typical Euro fashion, but balanced with US stylings as well.
Among the stronger cuts there’s ‘Minute By Minute’, the more melodic rock oriented tune – quite Americanized in a TYKETTO vein – on the album with nice melodious verses (Fredrik Jansson’s vocals are very clean) and a hooky chorus.

Midtempo ‘Blue Light Lady’ has cool AORish pretentions with its wet guitar riff and fine harmony vocals.
Some hard rockers are pretty strong as well, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ with some EXTREME on it, title track has a hot driven rhythm, ‘It’s Your Turn’ is groovy, ‘Rivers Of Agony’ add some atmospheric guitars, while we find in ‘Flowers In Her Hair’ a laid back acoustic number.
On the down side, the cover of the classic ‘Jailhouse Rock’ wasn’t necessary.

“Dead Man’s Tan” went pretty unnoticed when originally released (poor distribution) so it’s nice to see it reissued.
It’s a fine record well composed and properly mixed & produced. The band includes, apart from Pontus Egberg, drummer Bo Werner who recorded drums for Yngwie Malmsteen album Fire & Ice, and keyboardist Andreas Grill (Talk Of The Town), so expect good musicianship.
Cool

01 – Dead Man’s Tan
02 – Back On The Stage
03 – Why
04 – Shotgun Wedding
05 – Blue Light Lady
06 – Jailhouse Rock
07 – Flowers In Her Hair
08 – It’s Your Turn
09 – Minute By Minute
10 – Rivers Of Agony
11 – Absence
12 – Half A Bottle

Fredrik Jansson: Vocals
Paul Humble: Guitars
Pontus Egberg (The Poodles) : Bass
Andreas Grill (Talk Of The Town) : Keyboards
Bo Werner (Yngwie Malmsteen) : Drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0796TNBFP
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