Make Some Noise
The Dead Daisies
Spitfire Music/SPV
Four stars
The Dead Daisies are back with an album full of squealing guitars, pounding drums and stadium-ready hooks. The ever-evolving Australia-based collective – which has included former minor members of such groups as Guns N’ Roses, Whitesnake, Dio, Thin Lizzy and Ozzy Osbourne’s band – have been looking for the sweet spot between the hair metal of the 1980s and 1970s classic rock.
With this, their third album, they have found it. The 12 tracks deal mostly with love, touring and, well, making noise.
The standouts are Long Way to Go and Song and a Prayer, and there are credible covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic Fortunate Son, and The Who's Join Together.
Producer Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith, Def Leppard) lends an assured hand, cutting the fat and allowing each of the quintet to shine.
The album slightly sags toward the end – but has an impressive range.
It’s a tight, sharp-sounding album that will remind you what it’s like to headbang. The only possible side effect may be the impulse purchase of some motorcycle boots and leather jacket.
