X-Drive – Get Your Rock On

album by:
X-Drive
Version:
Audio CD
Price:
£11.12

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On 16 October 2014
Last modified:1 May 2017

Summary:

An album with essences of all the great power metal bands of the eighties. Packed with riffs and ballads which will appeal to fans of Whitesnake and Thunder as well as bands such as Firehouse, Slaughter and Warrant. Twelve melodic and catchy tracks which are bound to remind you of the great hair metal era!

X-Drive released their début album Get Your Rock On via Frontiers Records on 25th August 2014. Based in Los Angeles X-Drive is the brain child of Jeremy Brunner, who although relatively unknown is joined by some big names. James LoMenzo from White Lion on bass, Fred Fischer from Midline on Drums and on vocals Keith St. John from Burning Rain. The album was produced by Brunner and the late Andy Johns, who has worked with Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, and was finished not long before his sudden death in April 2013.

On first listen I thought this was in a similar vein to Ready an’ Willing era Whitesnake with lots of ballads and powerful riffs. On second listen I picked up more flavours. The title track Get Your Rock On being reminiscent of Bryan Adams’ The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You. Steppin’ On The Rock starts very Sweet Dreams Marilyn Manson style then blends harmoniously into something more akin to Is This Love by the afore mentioned Whitesnake. California similar to another great American state, in sound anyway, as I was reminded of Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynryd. Beyond the Angels a great power ballad Thunder meets The Scorpions style, say Love Walked In meets Wind of Change. The very seductive Rattlesnake Eyes with it’s screaming riffs reminded me of Burning Rain’s Too Hard To Break. Love Breaks The Fool a bit Quiet Riot meets Whitesnake say Love’s a Bitch meets Love Ain’t No Stranger/Fool For You Loving.

An album with essences of all the great power metal hair bands of the eighties. Packed with riffs and ballads which will appeal to fans of Whitesnake, Thunder and, although I haven’t mentioned specific songs in the review, bands such as Firehouse, Slaughter and Warrant.

Highlight tracks for me would have to be the title track Get Your Rock On and Rattlesnake Eyes.

Produced by Andy Johns and Jeremy Brunner

Mixed by Wyn Davis

X-Drive - Get Your Rock OnTrack List:

1. Love’s A Bitch
2. Get Your Rock On
3. Steppin’ On The Rock
4. Baby Bye Bye
5. California
6. Lay Me Down
7. Turn The Noize Down
8. Beyond The Angels
9. Rattlesnake Eyes
10. Just Can’t Stay
11. Change Of Heart
12. Love Breaks The Fool

Band Members:
Keith St. John – Vocals
James LoMenzo – Bass
Jeremy Brunner – Guitar
Fred Fischer – Drums

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XDriveMusic/info

An album with essences of all the great power metal bands of the eighties. Packed with riffs and ballads which will appeal to fans of Whitesnake and Thunder as well as bands such as Firehouse, Slaughter and Warrant. Twelve melodic and catchy tracks which are bound to remind you of the great hair metal era!

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!