BURNING RAIN – Epic Obsession

Label: Frontiers Records

Release Date: May 21, 2013

Rating: 9.5/10

Reviewed by: ToddStar

There are some rock bands that never took off, but should have.  Sometimes they get another chance due to successes of the members in other projects.  Such is the case with Burning Rain.  The latest effort is a great rock record.  I can’t wait to go back and check out their first two releases.  “Sweet Little Baby Thing” opens the disc in great rock fashion.  The guitar intro is all rock.  The band kicks in and gets the energy up fast.  The vocals jump in and up the ante.  This song is what classic rock sounds like today.  The riffs are huge and the vocals soaring.  “The Cure” has one of the sexiest grooves I have heard in a long time.  This track just oozes lust.  The guitars and vocals combine to create another bruising rocker that is sure to stand the test of time.  The guitar leads are perfect for the vibe of the track.  “Till You Die” is another full on rock track that takes a different approach from the previous tracks.  This song features a heavier bottom end and vocals that stand out more due to the arrangement.  This song demonstrates the influence of some of the outside projects, most notably Doug’s association with Whitesnake.  “Heaven Gets Me By” slows the tempo a bit and showcases the guitar prowess of Aldrich on an acoustic.  The vocals are bluesy and full.  They fill any void during the verse and chorus until the rest of the band kicks in.  The breakdowns add a little twist to the track, but overall a great rock ballad.  “Pray Out Loud” brings the energy back up with a killer track that predominately features the monstrous drumming and guitar licks.  The vocals are crazy good on this song and the bass line even steps up a little during the bridges to help keep the song cranking along.  “Our Time Is Gonna Come” is another bluesy rocker that features some cool tempo changes, along with more big guitar licks, powerful drum fills, searing vocals, and great bass lines.  This one is a cool power ballad that leans heavily on the power, especially the guitar solo.

“Too Hard To Break” follows the trail blazed by the previous track.  This song is full of harmonies, great vocals, and gratuitous guitar riffs.  The song builds from beginning to end and features the band in top form while taking the listener on a great mellow rock ride.  “My Lust Your Fate” adds more balls to the rock and gets the blood flowing.  The chugging bass underneath the vocals in the verse is enough to cause so hip grinding.  The groove is as lust filled as the vocals are and just as sexy as the guitar work.  The band pulled out all the stops on this track.  “Made For Your Heart” is another song that adds a twist to the sound of the band.  The vocals are different, but really good.  The vibe on this track is cool as hell, as it is a cool ballad that doesn’t feel like a ballad at all.  The gravel in Keith’s vocals really adds depth on this track.  “Ride The Monkey” is a complete u-turn from the previous track.  The band comes out swinging on this track.  The guitars are tempered by the bass and drums here.  The vocals duet with the rhythm parts of the track, while the guitar leads that break out enhance the rock cred of this track.  “Out In The Cold Again” brings the blues back to the disc on this rocker.  This song features a great groove that screams out for a great guitar riff that digs deep in the soul.  Aldrich delivers and gives this blues from deep within.  The lead is incredible as it varies from most of the other leads, riffs, and solos on this disc.  “When Can I Believe In Love” slows things down with a beautiful piano intro that duets nicely with Keith’s lead vocals.  The song adds another dimension to the band that hasn’t been seen yet on the disc.  This track takes the theory of a power ballad to heart and creates a cool mood as the disc comes to an end.

If you get a chance to pick up the disc with bonus tracks, do yourself a favor and do it.  I won’t ruin any surprises, but these guys recorded a killer version of a classic rock track that I enjoy more than the original.

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Category: CD Reviews