Bai Bang-All Around The World

“All Around The World” is the 8th studio album from Sweden’s Glam/ Melodic Hard Rock group Bai Bang.
“Livin’ My Dream” from 2011 was one of my favorite albums of the year, simply because it never strayed too far away from the trusted 80’s formula for rock music songwriting, wild parties, fast chicks, faster cars and Jack Daniels, neat, no ice.
BAI BANG’s recipe for rock is based on the basics: Short tracks, easy living melodies and lots of good time riff’s and on this record they seemed to have scored, big time. Or have they?
The melodies are much stronger on this one, and the production is better too. One thing that hasn’t changed are the songs subject matter, Bai Bang still use the same “let’s have a party, let’s rock” theme, and when there is time, they add in a couple of ballad’s about lost love.
The album positively bursts into life with the opening track “Everybody Everywhere”, which kicks in mid-chorus, no slow keyboard teasing here, no atmospheric Smokey build up, just straight in, from the off, punchy hard rock.
The album’s standout tracks are the catchy melodic tracks “Everybody Everywhere”, “Raise Your Hands” and the title track “All Around The World”. These tracks remind you of the big hitters from the 80’s, Def leppard, Danger Danger and to a certain degree, Black N Blue. Full of catchy melodies and great guitar hooks driving the songs along.
The two ballads are “How About Now” and “Now You’re Gone” and both of these are fine songs in their own right, but lose out to the up tempo tracks on the rest of the album, they simply are not strong enough.
I really wanted to like this album, although this is not a major improvement on “Livin’ My Dream”, it is an improvement, however for every one step forward this album takes, it also takes two backwards.
“Summertime” for instance is no doubt intended to be the perfect accompaniment for a summer’s day, However it is just too slow and plodding to be an uplifting holiday track, it is hardly ‘Summertime Girls’ by Y&T, And then there’s “Get It On”, which really should have been left on the demo tape.
One day I am sure Bai Bang will release a total killer record, but until they do, enjoy this one, warts and all, 7/10.

TRACKLIST
01. Everybody Everywhere
02. Gonna make it
03. Crazy
04. Bai Bang
05. How about now
06. Raise your hands
07. Summertime
08. Now you ́re gone
09. All around the world
10. Get it on

Diddi Kastenholt – Vocals
Joacim Sandin – Bass
Pelle Eliaz – Guitar
Jens Lundgren – Guitar
Johnny Benson – Drums

Website. www.baibang.se/
.http://youtu.be/v7CuAAAlCBY