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For many, eighties rock bands were either shameless purveyors of joyfully uplifting party anthems or hairspray soaked, spandex wearing lady boys with as much musical depth as Darth Cowell's record collection. Either way, the nineties dawned and the world became serious. The global recession, AIDS and the arrival of grunge significantly changed the musical map, rendering debauched glam metal acts outdated and tasteless. Since then 'hair metal' has thrived in a cult capacity, gaining momentum over the last decade as bands inspired by Motley Crue and their ilk have spread like fire gone wild. Finnish four piece Reckless Love are on a particular mission to resurrect the hedonistic traditions of Los Angeles infamous Sunset Strip, delivering stiletto sharp riffs, bombastic choruses and lascivious lyrics with minimum subtlety. It's as cheesy as Mr McCheese's cheese making factory in cheese land, but also a nice reminder of a carefree time when life wasn't quite so po-faced.
Whereas Steel Panther and The Darkness are tongue in cheek, Reckless Love eat, sleep and breathe anachronistic party rock. The quartet, led by vocalist and peroxide pretty boy Olli Herman, began life as a Guns N' Roses cover band, releasing their self titled début album in 2010. Whilst a wonderful recreation of stadium rock's glory days – huge melodies and Van Halen esque guitar pyrotechnics - it wasn't particularly original. Last year's follow up 'Animal Attraction' contained some excellently crafted AOR melodies, but overall felt less energised and like the guys were treading water. This mini-album coincides with Reckless Love's current tour of the UK and contains live tracks, acoustic cuts and an unreleased outtake from the 'Animal Attraction' sessions. Explaining the rather predictable reason for this release Olli Hermann says “As old school '80's metal fans, we wanted to put together something we were dying to get from our own idols, in the fashion of Guns N'Roses 'Lies'”.
As far as hook laden pop rock goes this is mostly great stuff. Although the band actively encourage Guns N' Roses comparisons they're much closer to the contagious stadium friendly anthems of Def Leppard and Poison than the dangerous attitudinal sleaze of Axl and co. The title track - 'Born To Break Your Heart' - has been spruced up and remixed by Tim Palmer, bringing a larger sound to a smooth as ice slice of immaculate drive time rock. The excellent AA outtake – 'Push' - continues that formula, masking a typically awful lyric with a wonderfully infectious refrain that's got eighties rock radio stamped all over it. The live songs are well executed, 'Beautiful Bomb' being a syrupy piece of power pop, 'Hot' a sun baked beach bash for horny frat boys and cosmetically enhanced bimbettes, and 'On The Radio' nicking 'You Give Love A Bad Name's prowling riff to create an expertly crafted nugget of melodic rock gold. However, the 'live' backing vocals are so perfect it's obvious they're using tapes, adding fuel to the the 'style over substance' criticisms that have been thrown at them. The acoustic tracks work surprisingly well considering the amps are off, played with a fun loving rowdy barroom feel. But the cover of Thin Lizzy's 'Boys Are Back In Town' is shocking. The song doesn't work acoustically and Olli struggles to get his lips around Lynott's lyrics, draining the street smart cool from them in the process. And the background monkey noises from the other band members doesn't help either.
As long as you disengage your cerebral hemispheres and enjoy uncomplicated party anthems this is catchy stuff that's destined for guilty pleasure status. However, comparisons with Guns N' Roses 'Lies' are ludicrous. That was a collection of bad ass rock and roll featuring blistering cover versions and awesome new tracks. This is slick, dumb as they come pop metal with lyrics so appallingly vacuous and juvenile Axl was probably writing better in the womb. That doesn't make it a bad thing. It's feelgood music for people who enjoy escapism, well crafted and played with fitting panache. It ain't big, it sure as hell ain't clever – but it's still an absolute blast for those who wish Kurt Cobain had remained a Kiss fan.
‘Born To Break Your Heart’ is available now on Spinefarm Records. Reckless Love are currently in the midst of a UK tour.
Mon October 15th 2012 - Club Academy, Manchester
Tue October 16th 2012 - Fleece, Bristol
Wed October 17th 2012 - Sub 89, Reading
Thu October 18th 2012 - BARFLY, CAMDEN, London
Sat October 20th 2012 - Cockpit, Leeds
Sun October 21st 2012 - O2 Academy2 Oxford, Oxford
Tue October 23rd 2012 - Cavern, Exeter
Wed October 24th 2012 - Haunt, Brighton
Thu October 25th 2012 - BARFLY, CAMDEN, London
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Whereas Steel Panther and The Darkness are tongue in cheek, Reckless Love eat, sleep and breathe anachronistic party rock. The quartet, led by vocalist and peroxide pretty boy Olli Herman, began life as a Guns N' Roses cover band, releasing their self titled début album in 2010. Whilst a wonderful recreation of stadium rock's glory days – huge melodies and Van Halen esque guitar pyrotechnics - it wasn't particularly original. Last year's follow up 'Animal Attraction' contained some excellently crafted AOR melodies, but overall felt less energised and like the guys were treading water. This mini-album coincides with Reckless Love's current tour of the UK and contains live tracks, acoustic cuts and an unreleased outtake from the 'Animal Attraction' sessions. Explaining the rather predictable reason for this release Olli Hermann says “As old school '80's metal fans, we wanted to put together something we were dying to get from our own idols, in the fashion of Guns N'Roses 'Lies'”.
