BONE SHAKER

Recalling some of the '80s metal tinged hard rock acts that rode melodic riffs and hooks without concern for flashy playing, "Bang… You're Dead" by Milwaukee's BONE SHAKER is a fun-filled ride. A thread of NWOBHM pride and bluster runs through these 10 tracks and the trio succeeds in writing memorable songs with a garage band charm that makes one feel as though they're jamming right along during an inebriated night at a local bar.

Considering all the bands today that are overly concerned with virtuosity and genre blending, it is a treat to hear a group that wears its influences on its sleeves and rocks hard. There isn't a shred of digitized sterility or needless layering on the disc, as the act puts the song first to satisfying results. The vocals of guitarist David "Gonz" Gonzalez are not exactly pitch perfect, yet he more than gets the job done by nailing the central melody of each song. Many of the tracks, such as highlight "How We Rock", possess an anthem-like quality that gets the head banging. Solos are always done in service to the song, are kept brief, and never sound as though Gonzalez is stretching beyond his limits. In general, the music reminds of the retro heavy metal sound that labels like Italy's Cruz Del Sur and bands like WIDOW have brought back to the masses. No pretense, just rocking out and having a grand time doing it.

Listening to "Bang… You're Dead" had me thinking that too often bands over think their craft. BONE SHAKER clearly have loads of fun performing and you can hear it on these tracks. "Bang… You're Dead" will probably not appeal to the average extreme music fan, nor is that the intent. Rather, the music of BONE SHAKER will bring smiles to the faces of those that remember the way that groups like 80's era Y&T and W.A.S.P. (in spirit if not exact style) brought smiles to the faces of those that appreciated the fundamentals of heavy metal and hard rock.