DEVIL’S TRAIN – II [DigiPak incl. Bonus Track] (2015)

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When we presented here two years ago the selft-titled debut from DEVIL’S TRAIN we were very impressed by the wonderful gut-churning, ball-grabbing, riff-fest set of songs packed on the CD. The band is back with the second album simply entitled “II” to be released tomorrow January 23rd.
All credit, then, that this is more than just a one-off project for ex-members of Stratovarius, Mystic Prophecy and Evergrey. Indeed this is a great assemble consisting of Mystic Prophecy’s iconic mastermind and producer RD Liapakis on the mic, drum legend Jörg Michael known to be in his long career for heroes like Rage, Stratovarius, Saxon and more, plus four-string Finn Jari Kainulainen (Masterplan, Evergrey) on bass, and Mystic Prophecy’s Lakis Ragazas on guitar.

“II” is just another killer, hot, ripping collection of hard n’ heavy songs.
The riffs and catchy songwriting are still in place and this seems to be pitched from the Slash / Myles Kennedy handbook of hard rocking with a modern sound, but inspired in the classic sounds of the genre.
Simple and irresistible hard rockers like the monster opener “Down On You”, the Whitesnake-esque “Can You Feel” or “You And Me” rock your socks off. There’s a fun old-school feel on the feisty “Hollywood Girl”, while “Let’s Shake It” adds a lot of groove.
As an album of riff-based raunchy tunes it still takes some beating from the relentless churning of “Mr Jones” and the bluesy “Rock Forever” to the pneumatic (and more modern) “Girl Like You”.

At difference with the debut, there’s no place for ballads on “II”.
Instead, we have two cool covers. The first is the classic “Born To Be Wild” done with a ripping riff as base, smashing drums and raspy lead vocals.
Then the other is a very personal, heavy take on Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, where the pace has been accelerated a bit for a major impact and the guitar wah-wah rule.

If this is the new vision of what is Hard N’ Heavy in 2015, I am all in. DEVIL’S TRAIN kick some serious ass with “II”
Nowadays so many bands try to reshape the glorious era of the ’80s where Hard N’ Heavy outfits made it to the crown jewels. Sadly, those hungry days are all but gone with only memories and the older versions of the bands that profiled them.
Aside from a few true groups that still follow the old paths, the rest run towards the unknown with nothing more than decent releases that aren’t even close to the past. Some would call it age, but I think that it has nothing to do with it.
Motivation is the key to success following the long standing devotion for the music. If an older band doesn’t have it, it won’t work for long or almost every release will end up being a drag.
Well, this is not the case with DEVIL’S TRAIN, a band that can be considered as how old-school, made in modern hands, should exactly sound and feel like.
KILLER CD.

01 – Down On You
02 – Hollywood Girl
03 – Gimme Love
04 – Mr. Jones
05 – Can You Feel
06 – Rock Forever
07 – Let’s Shake It
08 – Girl Like You
09 – Born To Be Wild
10 – You And Me
11 – Thunderstorm
12 – Suffocated
13 – Immigrant Song (Bonus Track)

R.D. Liapakis – Vocals (Mystic Prophecy, Valley’s Eve)
Jörg Michael – Drums (ex Running Wild, Saxon, Stratovarius)
Jari Kainulainen – Bass (Masterplan, ex Stratovarius, Evergrey)
Lakis Ragazas – Guitar (Mystic Prophecy)

BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/II-DigiPak-inkl-Bonus-Track/dp/B00PQLAQZW
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