Album Review: ADRENALINE RUSH - Soul Survivor

01. Adrenaline

02. Love Like Poison

03. Breaking The Chains

04. Soul Survivor

05. Stand My Ground

06. My Life

07. Break The Silence

08. Sinner

09. Shock Me

10. Wild Side

11. Don't Wake Me Up

12. Crash

13. Soul Survivor (Acoustic Version) [Bonus Track]

Soul Survivor is the second album from this Swedish Hard Rock band, and shows them taking a slightly more heavy and aggressive path from their debut. Other than that, it's business as usual.

If you haven't heard them before, think of the flurry of Glam/Sleaze/Hard Rock albums that came out in the very early 90's, just before the music industry annihilated the entire genre in favour of the Grunge movement. Think the first Vince Neil Album, Firehouse, The Scream, 'Revenge' era Kiss etc. Now replace the male 'Rawk' vocals with a female Pop vocal, and that's pretty much the sound of Adrenaline Rush. Fortunately, it works really well, and they have a sound that is very familiar, yet a little different, which sets them apart from other acts in the scene. Having a ridiculously hot lead singer clearly won't hinder their career either.

Adrenaline Rush have some seriously catchy songs that would have been hit singles back in the 80's such as the Rocking Crash and the sleazy Don't Wake Me Up which wouldn't sound out of place on an Aerosmith album or Poison's underrated Native Tongue. Even the title track hits the spot with its 80's 'Rock ballad meets The Bangles' vibe.

Soul Survivor is an entertaining listen from start to finish. If I'm brutally honest, the music is fairly generic and doesn't really offer anything new or innovative to the world of Rock 'n' Roll. Don't get me wrong though, it's still awesome! It's great Rock music played with precision and is beautifully produced. It's just all been done many times before. However, sometimes it's nice to listen to something that makes you feel nostalgic, and the glorious Pop vocals of Tave Wanning give it a freshness that prevent Adrenaline Rush from sounding too dated. I'm sure that the vocal style will upset many purists who can't stand bands that don't sound exactly the same as everything they already like, but to my ears the Pop and Rock styles complement each other wonderfully.

All they need now is a tour with Crazy Lixx and Reckless Love. Well, I'd buy a ticket!