MAXX12 - Special Forces (2014)
On their second album, MAXX12 have a
few new faces in the band, giving them the opportunity to redefine
themselves. Having not heard their first album, I can't say how this
outing differs, but the band offers some traditional hard rock
dredged from the start of the '80s. Big power chord riffs
(sometimes fairly crunchy), melodramatic vocals, and radio-friendly
song durations combine with arena rock ambitions to deliver a sound
most likely to be heard on stations with “Edge” in their name. The guitarist, T. Michael Riddle (a.k.a., Rooster) mixes in some neat
twists here and there, but things are kept generally simple, without
much in the way of surprises after the first listen. These sorts of
songs are generally meant to be memorized quickly for chant-along
live performances, though, so it's hard to fault them for something
intentionally omitted. If you like your rock so straight-forward
that it becomes retro, MAXX12 are part of the new crop of throw-back
hard rock that seems to be growing more popular with each month, and
they've got enough chops to keep up with the rest. Ultimately, radio play will
determine whether this iteration of the band swims or sinks.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; High Spirits, Twisted Sister, Dio, Night Ranger, Thin Lizzy
~
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