I’m a big Paul Shortino fan and love the album he did with Quiet Riot in the late 80’s. That period is when I discovered metal and went further down the rabbit hole never to return. I was thrilled when Carmine Appice re-booted the band and released their self-titled album in 2011 and having Paul on vocals made it for me. It was a great hard rock retro 80’s release.
Fast forward to this year and the band spring this on the world. To me it’s good but not as good as the previous one. The band have tried to expand their sound on Big River but remain true to their hard rocking roots on Have A Good Time and Hell On Wheels. It just has this cut and paste quality to it, a band who records here there and everywhere only getting together in the same room for the photos. Got It Comin’ is filler and Take Me Back sounds like a thousand ballads released over the years.
It’s good, a couple of songs too long but Shortino is still in fine form and for that I’m glad. Love the cover but whoever thought the font for the thank you notes was big enough needs their head examined. The less said about Johnny Rod’s hair the better.
Richie.
