AMERICAN BOMBSHELL – Tattooed ‘N Bruised (2019)
While the upcoming “Tattooed ‘N Bruised” is the second album by AMERICAN BOMBSHELL, this is the ‘first’ to get major distribution. Inspired by ’80s classic US hard rock, namely Guns N’ Roses, Junkyard, Bang Tango and Lynch Mob, isn’t a surprise to see as guests here Richard Fortus of Guns N’ Roses and David Roach of Junkyard.
According to the press sheet, guitarist Steve Boyles and drummer Jason Carr started working together a few years prior to Bombshell. They both discovered that they had a similar passion and the right ideas to create rock n’ roll music.
They reached out to some fellow musicians within the Indianapolis local scene who had expressed some interest to shake things up a little, and with the addition of Jay Cee (vocals), Andy Nixon (lead guitar), and Dustin Green (bass) the line-up was completed.
The result of this collaboration was the band’s debut album entitled ‘No Regrets’. One of the songs earned American Bombshell the grand prize in a nationwide contest hosted by The Grammys – beating out over 4000 other artists – getting the chance to record a song with Grammy award winning producer Mike Clink (Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction) at the legendary EastWest Studios in Hollywood, CA.
The song, the groovy rocker titled ‘My Drug’, is added on this release as bonus track.
And that’s the same motto all over “Tattooed ‘N Bruised”: Eighties influenced hard rock with a Sunset Strip feeling. American Bombshell’s music is simple, catchy, in-your-face and with lots of groove.
There’s no tricks here, just good, effective, 3 and a half minute songs of old-fashioned ass-kickin’ rock ‘n’ roll with tons of attitude.
‘Money On The Liqueur’ featuring a swirling guest guitar solo by Richard Fortus and David Roach of Junkyard on vocals, ‘Run Away’, the anthem ‘Only Rock N Roll’ (again Roach guest) or ‘Raising Hell & Living Sin’ are all catchy, rocking tracks bringing to mind Guns N’ Roses circa 1987.
However American Bombshell add their own spin to the sound, a little more edgy here and there, and less sleazy.
There’s some Jetboy on ‘Stupid = Famous’, a bit of BulletBoys on ‘Degenerate Love Song’, while in ‘The Bitter End’ (Lynch Mob touches), and the fun Supersuckers cover ‘Pretty F@cked Up’ the band delivers two more effective, enjoyable rockers.
The acoustic ‘Joyride’ brings back memories from bands such as Every Mother’s Nightmare slower moments or Poison ballads, and it’s a cool break at the middle of the album.
It’s all pretty clear here; “Tattooed ‘N Bruised” delivers an enjoyable slice of classic Eighties US hard rock, updated in production yet aiming the same; fun and ‘nothing but a good time’.
It isn’t all lost in the current USA hard rock scene, and American Bombshell are proof of that.
Highly Recommended
01. Money On The Liquor (feat. Richard Fortus of Guns N’ Roses)
02. Faster
03. Run Away
04. Only Rock ‘N Roll (feat. David Roach of Junkyard)
05. Raising Hell & Living Sin
06. Joyride
07. Stupid = Famous
08. Degenerate Love Song
09. The Bitter End
10. Pretty F@cked Up (Supersuckers cover)
BONUS TRACKS:
11. My Drug (produced by Mike Clink)
12. Saving Me
Jay Cee – Vocals
Steve Boyles – Guitar
Andrew “Nix” Nixon – Guitar
Dustin Green – Bass
Jason Carr – Drums
Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses) – guest Guitar
David Roach (Junkyard) – guest Vocals
Pre Order:
www.americanbombshell.net/product/tattooed-n-bruised-cd-pre-order/
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