ANIMALYZE – Powerhouse (2025) *HQ*
Hailing from Scandinavia, but this time from Denmark, and with their debut album titled “Powerhouse“, ANIMALYZE promises to bring the joy of the golden Sunset Strip glam glory back to the people. Have they succeeded?
On the evidence contained here, and on the whole, I would say that the answer is a resounding Yes. The songs are straightforward, simple, effective with memorable choruses and a huge dose of fun which we can all do with more of, let’s be honest. I would go so far as saying that this is the best glam metal debut I’ve heard since Reckless Love’s way back in 2011 and I doubt that there’s a bigger compliment I can give it than that.
Indeed, this 10-tracker got kind of a raw ’80s throwback vibe to it, bite, and a true rock n’ roll soul.
A wailing siren scream before the thumping title track “Powerhouse” comes complete with throbbing guitar and gang vocals that will have you immediately out of your seat reaching for your air guitar. It had me wondering how they were going to top that because, as opening salvos go, it was on the right side of awesome.
“Hunter of The Night” settles back a little but wouldn’t be out of place on any later KISS album such as Sonic Boom; whilst “Beauty Is A Killer” stretches the gang style backings into fine harmonizing that could raise comparisons to Night Ranger and others of a similar ilk; before more radio ready choruses appear for “Trigger of Love”.
“Hot But Dangerous” is proficiently executed but I felt rather leaden which certainly belied the title’s promise. Absolutely nothing wrong with it but I just thought it lacked the full bodied excitement I was expecting, that’s all.
“Wild For Free” channels the band’s inner Poison with a gang style chant replete with classic ‘Let Me Hear You Scream’ lyric and band chatter in a similar vein to ‘Play that guitar CC’. The joyful swaggering boogie of “X-Medication” then gives way to “Pleasure & Pain”, a sleazy infused growler, that put me in mind of Little Caesar which is certainly no bad thing to my ears; before “Dr. Chemical” ramps up the glammy aspect a little more alongside yet another simple but sweetly infectious chorus.
“Kings of The Night” is a stomping , airwave and arena friendly rocker that brings the album to a close in much the same way that the title track began proceedings so perfectly.
The production is crystal clear and the band members are really on fire throughout, with Clay Ronson’s faultless guitar perfectly complimenting the rhythm section of Mike Lauren on bass and Chris Clark‘s drumming, whilst all three contribute superb harmonizing on practically every track.
Singer Vikki Mahrt has a vocal chameleon quality that is a huge bonus in itself. Whether he’s growling like Ron Young or bouncing along in a Bret Michaels style, I have absolutely no doubt that he will hold the anticipated crowds in the palm of his hands if he is even half as good live as he is on here.
ANIMALYZE pay tribute to an era since their main name, however they are not on the nostalgic side but adding their own twist, with a Scandinavian touch in between. The band sound fresh, energetic, focused in the music they love, and you can hear it.
Highly Recommended
01 – Powerhouse
02 – Hunter of the Night
03 – Beauty is a killer
04 – Trigger For Love
05 – Hot But Dangerous
06 – Wild For Free
07 – X-Medication
08 – Plesure & Pain
09 – Dr. Chemical
10 – Kings Of The Night
Vikki Mahrt – lead and backing vocals
Clay Ronson – guitar, backing vocals
Mike Lauren – bass, backing vocals
Chris Clark – drums
BUY
animalyze.dk/pre-order-the-new-cd/
