WINGER – Winger IV [digitally remastered +1] (2018)

No longer into the Frontiers Music roster, Kip Winger has retrieved the rights of WINGER‘s latest albums. In the case of “Winger IV“, Kip has freshly remastered the album himself, added the original Japanese bonus tracks, and re-released it 2018 via his own label.

After many years, Winger reunited again for a fourth album.
“Winger IV” is the natural evolution from their last Nineties recording (masterpiece ‘Pull’). It’s a ‘progressive thinking man’s album’, mature, elaborated, yet with catchy rockers as well into the mix.
Since the opening riffs of “Right Up Ahead” hit you, it will be instantly apparent that this is a leaner and meaner Winger, kicking off with this heavy rock tune, dark and ominous with plenty of ferocious guitar from Beach and Kip’s snarling vocals.

As you make your way through the album, a similar vibe keeps coming at you. Although some of the tunes have an uptempo, somewhat commercial feel, like the Van Halen-ish “Your Great Escape” (awesome guitar tone), and others touch upon epic, progressive type elements, like the majestic, keyboard laden rocker “Disappear”, for the most part these are serious hard rock tunes that pull no punches.

“Blue Suede Shoes” (great chorus) and the raging “M16” are hard and heavy hitters, and “Livin’ Just to Die” contains some wicked and crunchy guitar squeals from Beach alongside some crisp drum work from Morgenstein.
Beach delivers some tricky lead guitar work on the party rock of “Short Flight to Mexico” (a melodic rocker for the band 80s fans), while “Generica” again dives into almost prog-rock waters with varied vocals from Kip, keyboards, and textured guitar work.
“On a Day Like Today” is the only real ballad on the album, and while “Can’t Take It Back” starts off like it might fall into the same category, then it quickly develops into an elaborated rocker with huge vocal layers and a bombastic chorus.

I was one of those listeners who really dug the first Winger albums back in the ’80s, prime and cheesy commercial hard rock. Then the band demonstrate their incredible talent as musicians in third effort Pull.
After many years, Winger come back with this “Winger IV”, a consistent piece of work containing some of Winger‘s best material ever.
Heavier and darker stuff, spiced with some melodious rockers and a strong production.

I don’t know if “Winger IV” needed a remastering, but Kip Winger has increased the punch a bit, and there’s a more ‘lively’ feel in this reissue. A welcomed one, because the album was out of stock at many stores / countries.
Highly Recommended

01 – Right up Ahead
02 – Blue Suede Shoes
03 – Four Leaf Clover
04 – M16
05 – Your Great Escape
06 – Disappear
07 – On a Day Like Today
08 – Livin’ just to Die
09 – Short Flight to Mexico
10 – Generica
11 – Can’t Take It Back
12 – Blue Suede Shoes (Acoustic) [original Japan bonus track]

Kip Winger – vocals, bass, keyboards
Reb Beach – guitars, vocals
Rod Morgenstein – drums, piano
John Roth – guitars, vocals
Cenk Eroğlu – guitar, keyboards

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Winger-IV-Remastered/dp/B079G4F6FX
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