KING LIZARD – A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream (2012)

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Although based in London, KING LIZARD are the more ‘American’ Hard Rock band in UK. They have debuted two years ago with the underground

praised ‘

Viva La Decadance’, a dirty sleazy (not sleaze) recording.

It was an OK CD for me, plenty of attitude and energy but I need more than that in my musical book regarding this style. Both ingredients must be complemented with some flashy delivery and technical ability, and that’s exactly what the Lizards’s have incorporated in their sophomore album “A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream” to be released next week.

My how they’ve grown. This is not the same party we heard on the band’s debut. “A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream” is darker, punchier and musically solidly supported by stronger songwriting, more polished arrangements and a kickin’ production.

King Lizard tries to capture the ‘real’ unbridled debauchery of classic American Hard Sleazy albums from the late ’80s and blending it with the sneering sounds of today, and they succeed.

Flash Sawyer’s voice is enough gritty yet melodic when needed and guitarist Niro is potentially a superstar – the man has the touch and feel of someone who could have walked into Motley Crue or LA Guns back when they started.

The album starts with the couple of no-resting hard rockers “Come Get Some” and “Kneel to the King”, followed by the more bouncy but surefooted bitter love song featuring clearer vocal & guitar parts.

Then the full speed and fun hard rocker “Hair of the Dog” ups the peace again with a really good guitar work, and the ‘bad-boys’ charm cranks up on “I Want You To Want Me”, certainly an offensive dripping in sleazy ala 1986 Guns.

Solid mid-half of the album, but the second is better and more varied.

The hard rocking Shotgun Messiah-gang attitude of “If It’s a Sin” is one of the best moments on the CD (love this track), and there’s a sweaty riff in the catchy title track “A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream”.

“Just To Hear You Say It” is an interestingly mellow track which slows the album without bogging it down. “Hard To Get” is back on the bite after the Sunset Blvd sound of “This Ain’t Love”, while “Down” has a great balance of attitude and melody.

“Waterloo Ratz” closes the album with a strong punch rounding up the best features of the band; wild vocals, gang backing choruses and layers of diving guitars.

“A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream” is a kickin’ Hard Rock album in the typical American second half of the ’80s sleazy style. That’s where musically King Lizard are coming from, with a hint of Thin Lizzy swagger, yet definitely US sounding.

Packed with kick-ass songs, spirited musicianship and the excellent production by Pedro Ferreira (The Darkness, Tank), “A Nightmare Livin’ The Dream” is one of the best albums of the year in this particular musical style.

Interestingly enough, this Hard Rock sub-genre is enjoying a real resurgence in Europe more than where it originate, so Londoners King Lizard might just be the right band in the right city at the right time.

Rocks!

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrockz

01 – Come Get Some

02 – Kneel to the King

03 – I Can’t Be Your Lover

04 – Hair of the Dog

05 – I Want You to Want Me

06 – If It’s a Sin

07 – A Nightmare Livin’ the Dream

08 – Just to Hear You Say It

09 – This Ain’t Love

10 – Hard to Get

11 – Down

12 – Waterloo Ratz

Flash Roxx Sawyer – Vocals

Niro Knox – Guitars

Lee Benz – Bass

Moyano El Buffalo – Drums

BUY IT !

kinglizard.co.uk/products/a-nightmare-livin-the-dream