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2022

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth 2022 Album Review

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts: Ballad Of A Misspent Youth Album 2022

Release Date

November 4, 2022

Music Recording Group LLC

Tracklisting

1.”Ballad of a Misspent Youth”

2. “Girl On The East Side of Town”

3. “Ain’t For the Faint”

4. “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead”

5. “Shadow On The Street”

6. “Say Goodbye” – Favorite Track

7. “Lovesick City”

8. “Forgive But Won’t Forget”

Total Recommended / Favorite Tracks – 8 / 8

Total Background Tracks – 0 / 8

Total Skip Tracks – 0 / 8

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth 2022 Album on Spotiify

Who is Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – Ballad Of A Misspent Youth for?

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts 2022 Album, Ballad Of A Misspent Youth, is laser focused on the classic rock market, but not the typical influences, which makes it way more interesting.

Tuk Smith has always bled his influences combining the stylings of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Kiss, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, T. Rex, Gary Glitter & AC/DC.

Members

Vocals / Guitars – Tuk Smith

Guitars – Ricky Dover Jr.

Bass – Shane Rickerson

Drums – Nigel Dupree

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Band Photo

Where did Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Originate from?

Tuk Smith came to rock n roll prominence with his original band, Biters, based out of Atlanta, GA.

Biters’ 2015 album, Electric Blood, released through Earache Records, garnered lots of attention in the rock n roll music industry. Notable accolades include Nikki Sixx, Danko Jones, Classic Rock Magazine, Alternative Press, Planet Rock and many others.

I was introduced to Biters with the track “Low Lives in Hi Definition” from 2015’s Electric Blood album. I quickly found myself listening to track after track. My favorite track is “Time to Bleed”. The opening track to Electric Blood is entitled “Restless Hearts”, which is a skip track for me and definitely would have not opened the album with it.

In 2017 the Biters released the sophomore album, The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be. I really dig the first half of this record, it’s like a more polished Electric Blood, especially “Stone Cold Love”. The rest of the album is good, but it’s basically filler tracks. The band was touring to support this release, the press was rolling in, but then the discography was pulled down & the Biters hit the pause button.

Tuk Smith basically stated in the Danko Jones podcast that the members decided to go an indefinite hiatus beginning in 2018. Tuk Smith then broke off, moved to Nashville, TN and founded Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts.

If you are interested in the Biters catalogue it is currently back up and streaming on all platforms.

Biters – Atlanta, GA
Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Live

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts & Covid

On January 2020 Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts released the debut single, “What Kinda Love”. Tuk Smith’s credibility & the single landed the band a stadium tour with Def Leppard and Motley Crue. Then Covid 19 hit and everything was erased. The debut album, Lookin’ For Love, Ready For War, was to be released in late 2020, but was shelved.

“When the pandemic hit, it was like hitting the reset button on my music career”recalls Tuk, “everything got taken away…album campaign, stadium tour, record deal. The world was in lockdown, and the only way to escape was to throw myself into writing. My thoughts began exploring the past, and the inspiration for the songs just came in tidal waves.” – Tuk Smith

During the Covid Lockdown Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts released the EP Covers From The Quarantine through Better Noise Music. I was confirmed Tuk is the shit because he covered the Kiss song “Hard Luck Woman”, which is the reason why everyone should buy a twelve string guitar.

Then finally in November 2022 the debut album Ballad For A Misspent Youth was released.

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Band Photo

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth – Album Review

This record had me so curious. The 2020 single, “What Kinda Love”, sounded like a more polished less gritty Biters using The Who & Queen as its soundtrack.

Tuk Smith is incredibly consistent with the songs he dishes out. It’s the AC/DC way of songwriting. Every song is good, they all sound the same and in this case Tuk basically polished up the Biters tracks and recycled them. Tuk loves Tom Petty, Thin Lizzy, “Surrender” & Gary Glitter so much!

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth is a jukebox of all your major key classic rock. It’s almost like a version of The Darkness without the falsetto vocals. I applaud Tuk Smith for focusing influences on the 70’s glam side, there are so many bands that try to imitate Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and after awhile it gets played out or comes off as lame.

Tuk Smith has been successful and able to get away with rewriting very similar songs across two bands, but is it sustainable? If I were in Tuk’s ear I would be pushing him to write 99% up tempo slightly more aggressive tracks for the next record in order to make it relevant in the discography or get crazy with Pink Floyd / Rush inspired tracks.

If the same rewritten material comes out for now a fourth record I think the majority of the album will come off as filler tracks. At least make sure there are zero traces of Tom Petty, The Who, “Surrender” and Gary Glitter. Tuk is a solid songwriter and you’ll always at least get two killer tracks in whatever he does. I would love to hear the band jam out a bit maybe in a darker Sabbath tone.

The press surrounding Ballad Of A Misspent Youth is totally positive and deservedly so. Every song on this record is solid. Also the performance & production is stellar. I cannot make single negative comment other than Tuk is walking a tight rope with wearing his influences on his sleeve.

Ballad Of A Misspent Youth served its purpose. It has put rock n roll fans on notice that Tuk Smith will not just roll over and there is plenty of high quality music still in the tank. The follow up release is going to make or break Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts. The band either breaks and makes it their own or will forever be lumped in with retro vintage cruise lineups, which could fun, but probably under achieving.

Whatever Tuk Smith does I’m following.

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Videos

Tour

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Tour Dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Misfit Saints – Punk, Rock N Roll, Long Island, NY 2022

MIsfit Saints Greetings From Nowhere Album Art 2022 1024x1024 Website
Misfit Saints “Greetings From Nowhere” 2022

NEW NOISE MAGAZINE PREMIERES

MISFIT SAINTS – “TRAILER THRASH”

Click Here to Listen at New Noise Magazine

FEATURED CONTENT

MEMBERS:

Carly Quinn – Vocals / Bass

Mickey Squeeze – Guitars / Vocals

Alex Rainbow – Drums

BIO

Long Island, NY’s own Misfit Saints is a felonious rock n roll trailer park dumpster fire power trio sparked by Midnight Mob’s controlled chaos. Carly Quinn, bassist/vocalist, Mickey Squeeze (Guitars) & Alex Rainbow (Drums) are determined to claw back, one piña colada at a time, to where they left off , playing main stages at all the major festivals & garnering credibility in the music industry.

Misfit Saints has been Carly Quinn’s Frankenstein. This solo project began prior to Midnight Mob’s 2016 EP release, Honest Brutal Glorious, and Carly fully recorded tracks with drummer, Chris Matthews. This was something Carly did for herself and had zero idea what she was actually going to do with it until 2017.

Midnight Mob hit the pause button, Carly pushed play on Misfit Saints and Mickey Squeeze was asked to come along for the ride. At the same time Squeeze was beginning to formulate Vanzig Studios and asked Carly to ride shotgun.

The drummer carousel for felt like an eternity before teaming up with Alex Rainbow. Misfit Saints was then delayed by a number of life events. Squeeze had twins in 2019 and then Covid in 2020, which severely hindered live shows and rehearsal time. The debut EP was initially released in 2020, but was pulled down in order to release it properly.

Misfit Saints re-released, remastered and re-envisioned will debut 12/8/22 with Greetings From Nowhere under the new label, Vanzig Records.

WHAT’S NEXT

Greetings From Nowhere, dropping 12/8/22, will be a double single release featuring the tracks “Trailer Thrash” & “Postcards From Nowhere”. Following this release will be B-Sides and alternate versions including re-worked acoustic versions.

Throughout 2023 will be various new releases followed up by more b-sides, alternate versions & acoustic renditions. In addition, there will be a live release featuring tracks performed at the rehearsal studio.

Be on the lookout for various videos supporting Greetings From Nowhere and all future releases. Feel free to contact the band via email through Vanzig Studios or directly for all inquiries. Carly and friends are looking to book shows and promote through various press outlets.

TOUR / EVENTS

Misfit Saints Tour / Event

MISFIT SAINTS GEAR

FENDER – ORANGE – PEAVEY – MARSHALL – D’ANGELICO – GIBSON – TAMA – ZILDJIAN – STRYMON – EARTHQUAKER DEVICES – DUNLOP – DIGITECH – TC ELECTRONIC – EARNIE BALL – ELIXIR – SHURE – INTEXCABLES

LET’S TALK AMIGOS!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Sahara Hotnights “Love In Times of Low Expectations” Album Review 2022 – Sweden Pop Rock

Sahara Hotnights 2022 Album Cover Love In Times of Low Expectations Swedish Rock
Sahara Hotnights Love In Times Of Low Expectations 2022

Release Date

May 6, 2022

Universal Music AB

Tracklisting

1.”Reverie” -> Background Music

2. “Avalanche” -> Recommended

3. “Vertigo” -> Recommended

4. “Predictable” > Favorite Track

5. “Gemini” > Favorite Track

6. “Diving For Pearls” -> Recommended

7. “Heavy Load” – > Recommended

8. “Athena” -> Favorite Track

9. “Mind Games” -> Skip

10. “Leander” -> Background Music

Total Recommended / Favorite Tracks – 7 / 10

Total Background Tracks – 2 / 10

Total Skip Tracks – 1/ 10

Who is Sahara Hotnights, Love In Times Of Low Expectations for?

Sahara Hotnight’s, Love In Times Of Low Expectations, is for fans of mellow 80’s pop. The music that instantly pops into my head when I listen is Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”, Talk Talk “It’s My Life”, Wham! “Last Christmas”, Goldfrapp “Rocket” and all the other music that’s 80’s tastic.

The Sahara Hotnights took ten years off and came back with an album that has some classic hotnights tones but for the most part is out of left field. Most people, I think, will either love it or hate it.

Members

Vocals – Maria Andersson

Guitars – Maria Andersson / Jennie Asplund

Bass – Joanna Asplund

Drums – Josephine Forsman

Sahara Hotnights Promo Band Photo Love Int Times of Low Expectations 2022
Sahara Hotnights – Robertsfors, Sweden

Why are the Sahara Hotnights Unique?

The Sahara Hotnights to this day actually have all original members since originating in 1991.

The Sahara Hotnights blew up in the late 90’s when there was this garage rock, rock n roll resurgence. The Swedish band, The Hives, exploded on Mtv along with The Donnas, Buckcherry & Monster Magnet. Soon to follow would be The Vines, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and many more.

Sahara Hotnights front woman, Maria Andersson, & The Hives frontman, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, also could not resist each other’s charisma and were romantically involved for a time until moving their separate ways sometime 2006.

The Sahara Hotnights became part of my record collection with the 1999 major label debut of C’mon Lets Pretend. The late 90’s was a weird period for rock and this one of those bands that filled a void.

I can honestly say after the C’mon Lets Pretend album there were a few tracks on each album I dug but not an album as a whole. Although after listening to Love In Times Of Low Expectations I rediscovered the album What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing released in 2007.

What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing featured “Cheek to Cheek” & “Visit to Vienna”. What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing and Love In Times Of Low Expectations pair really well together and I think showcases the Sahara Hotnight’s best songwriting.

Sahara-Hotnights Color Band Photo
Sahara H, Nikki Brumen

Where Were the Sahara Hotnights for 10 Years?

There isn’t much information out there, but this is what I got.

Courtesy of Newsbeezer.com:

Singer and guitarist Maria Andersson Lundell has released a solo album and was assistant to Plura from Eldkvarn on the TV show Plura’s Kitchen. Bassist Johanna Asplund toured with Love Antell and became a project manager on television. Guitarist Jennie Asplund bought a farm in Skåne and started a furniture company. Drummer Josephine Forsman played with the band Casablanca and did music shows for Utbildningsradion before moving to Los Angeles where she works with LOUD, an international music school for young people.

Pro tip: Even if 10 years goes by with your bandmates, it’s never over until you all say it’s over. Keep in touch keep doors open this could be the year for new music.

Maria Andersson Live Stockholm Sweden Festival
Maria Andersson Live Stockholm, Sweden

Love In Times Of Low Expectations – Review

On first listen of debut single “Reverie” and the corresponding photo shoot I had very low expectations. I like many wanted to hear some distorted guitars and the see the band in leather jackets. Instead I got no guitars just mellow keyboards and oversized 80’s/90’s mom sitcom attire.

I assumed the Sahara Hotnights jumped the shark with this new crop of music until I heard the second single, “Gemini”. I have no idea why this was not the first single, but I guess it doesn’t matter since the rest of album sounds like alternate versions of these two songs.

Love In Times Of Low Expectations chose a tone & vibe and went whole hog. If you need a mellow album that sounds like Cyndi Lauper or something similar while your vibing out late at night then this is your album.

I was actually really surprised how many times I played this album skipping really only one track consistently, “Mind Games”. Hands down “Gemini”, “Predictable” & “Athena” carry this album. These three tracks are the “best of” what Love In Low Times Of Expectations offers. Other tracks like “Avalanche” & “Vertigo” have great hooks in them but do not come close as a whole to the three I just mentioned.

I have read reviews of this album where the consensus seems to be good but unsatisfied. What I really like about this record is that the Sahara Hotnights showcase great songwriting, attention to vocal melodies & music hooks.

The biggest negative I would have to say is the zero tempo change. The album sounds like one long song in the same key at the same slow tempo, even a slight key change in one of the choruses would add some nice color. When the banjo dropped on “Predictable” I was like fuck yeah, it elevated the hell out of the song without changing tempo.

I love the 80’s pop sound and the Sahara Hotnights paid serious homage to it. I also love thrash metal, Ryan Adams and the UK Subs. Honestly I am weirdly addicted to Love In Times Of Low Expectations, but definitely not the look.

Sahara Hotnights Videos

Tour

Sahara Hotnights Tour Dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Blood Command – 2022 Praise Armageddonism Album Review – Norway DeathPop Metal

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-Norway-2022
Blood Command Praise Amageddonism 2022

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Loyal Blood Records

Hassle Records

Tracklisting

1.”Praise Armageddonism” (Awake Theme) -> Recommended

2. “Saturday City” -> Recommended

3. “The End is Her” -> Recommended

4. “Everything You Love Will Burn” > Sick Transition Track

5. “Questionable Taste in Friends” > Background Music

6. “A Villains Monologue” -> Favorite

7. “Nuns, Guns & Cowboys” – > Recommended

8. “I Just Want That Movie Ending” -> Recommended

9. “Burn the Blasphemer” -> Recommended

10. “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate” -> Recommended (includes killer instrumental)

Total Recommended Tracks – 8 / 10

Who is Blood Command, Praise Armageddonism for?

Blood Command’s, Praise Armageddonism, is for fans of Paramore, Marmozets and the like, but the aggressive metal, punk, hardcore version if you can picture that. The song “Saturday City” and “The End is Her” are pretty picture perfect representations of the pop side of the band.

This is one those albums that has the ability to bond music lovers. If you like your music with screams, heaviness laced with punk energy and your significant other is into Paramore like pop hook madness then crank this album together.

Not every song will be a winner with both sides, but there will definitely be some shared cuts.

Members

Vocals – Nikki Brumen

Guitars – Yngve Andersen

Bass – Simon Oliver Økland

Drums – Sigurd Haakaas

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-2022
Blood Command – Bergen, Norway

Why is Blood Command Unique?

Here is some interesting background info circling Blood Command.

I am almost positive vocalist, Nikki Brumen, is the third Blood Command singer. Praise Armageddonism, Blood Command’s fourth album, and is Nikki Brumen’s first Blood Command album. Becoming the new singer required Nikki to relocate from Melbourne, Australia to Bergen, Norway.

Nikki Brumen is the former singer of the Australia band, Pagan. Pagan disbanded and Nikki was hit up by Blood Command through social media asking her if she wanted the gig. This album was completely recorded with former singer, Karina Ljone, and then shelved when she hung up her dancing shoes for motherhood.

Blood Command then re-recorded this record with Nikki Brumen along with navigating massive distance between Nikki and the band due to Covid traveling restrictions.

I discovered Blood Command through Spotify with the 2017 album Cult Drugs and was instantly hooked on the creative heavy, dance, thrash aggression. I highly recommend checking out Cult Drugs. Both albums very similar but different and both you can set to repeat without fail.

Pro tip to all the young bands: band chemistry effortlessly creates a unique sound everyone digs, there is no chasing this sound, being genuine kills it live every time

Blood-Command-Nikki-Brumen-Live
Blood Command Vocalist, Nikki Brumen

What happened to Nikki’s previous band, Pagan?

From what I found, Pagan decided to just go their separate ways in January of 2020.

Courtesy of ManiacsOnline interview with Nikki Brumen:

“Pagan announced are break up in early 2020 and I knew I still wanted to play music, so I started jamming with friends and then all of a sudden I got a message on Facebook from Yngve and he introduced himself and said that he knew my band Pagan had split up, and he loved Pagan and that he had a proposition for me, would I want to front Blood Command, because their singer was leaving and I’d always had his dream voice.

I was a fan of Blood Command already, I’d actually put Blood Command as one of my top 5 bands of 2019 in an interview with Kerrang. So the stars really aligned. I couldn’t actually believe it when I read the message, like every friend that I told that I’d been asked to join a band not only from Norway but from Bergen which is my favourite place I’ve ever been, they were just laughing, saying that this cannot be real, surely you’re getting catfished. But it was real and it is real and it’s just amazing. ” –Nikki Brumen

Pro tip: Go hard or go home. It’s so easy to call it quits, but so hard to believe in yourself & keep going. Hard work & patience gives you a better chance at succeeding in this ridiculous industry

Nikki-Brumen-Pagan-Blood-Command
Pagan Featuring Nikki Brumen pre Blood Command (Why doesn’t Nikki have a beard too?)

Praise Armageddonism – Review

I can’t say enough good things about the new 2022 Blood Command album, Praise Armageddonism. The album has been out for two and a half months and I can honestly say I listen to the album in its entirety all the time.

Praise Armageddonism has this umami thing to it, to put it in foodie terms. It’s a bowl of food where every bite looks the same & initially tastes the same, but in every bite you notice something different and as a result you can’t stop eating because you might taste something new and exciting.

Blood Command has a crazy knack for squeezing the most out of every album by using an instrument that comes out of left field. An example of this is the closing track “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate”. Blood Command likes to throw keyboards and horns into the mix and it always takes the song and album to another level.

I have always loved this super creative style of writing taking thrashy aggression and smashing it with ultra pop. Cheap Trick brought this type of song writing to my attention and The Wildhearts as well as all of the Ginger Wildheart projects such as Hey Hello or Mutation further amplified my creativity as a songwriter.

There is always something special when a single bass line, “Villains Monologue”, is enough to stir your shit up. It won’t stop playing in my head. The band chemistry & performance on Praise Armageddonism alone is enough to demand high praise. The bonus that the songs are as hooky as fuck is some tasty icing.

It feels like Nikki Brumen will be the vocalist for quite some time. Nikki compliments the band extraordinarily well and completes the band. Blood Command comes off as a band on a mission to devour and conquer not the Nikki & the dudes show. Really excited about what follows.

If you dig what you hear and are interested in some band merch then head over to Blood Command’s bandcamp for exclusive vinyl record, apparel & music deals. If you don’t see anything you like make sure you visit the website store.

Skål,  Cheers Mates!

Blood Command Videos

Tour

Blood Command tour dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Classless Act – Welcome to the Show Album Music Review 2022 (Hard Rock / Rock N Roll / Los Angeles, CA)

Classless-Act-Band-Los Angeles-CA

Release Date

June 24, 2022

Better Noise Music

Tracklisting

1.”Classless Act” (Featuring Vince Neil)

2. “This is for You” (Featuring Justin Hawkins) -> Skip

3. “Time to Bleed” -> Skip

4. “On My Phone” -> Recommended

5. “All that We Are” > Recommended

6. “Made in Hell” > Recommended

7. “Storm before the Calm” -> Background Music

8. “Haunting Love” -> Guilty Pleasure

9. “Walking Contradiction” – > Favorite

10. “Give it to Me” -> Skip

11. “Circles” -> Recommended

12. “Thoughts from a Dying Man” -> Skip

Who is Classless Act, Welcome to the Show for?

This album has a weird confusing focus demographic. In a nutshell, if you are into hard rock on the 80’s / 70’s side and any Slash solo album then the debut Classless Act album, Welcome to the Show is your cup of tea for the most part.

On the flip side, if you are a My Chemical Romance fan then this album is also for you. Most people getting into this album will most likely only like half and either ignore or tolerate the other half pending where you fall and your age.

For some reason it seems the label is really trying to get this band laid by 40 plus horny cougars as well as service the Eddie Trunks of the world. I was always under the impression the big label move is to focus on the younger market so your audience grows with you and buys into all of the marketing shenanigans.

Members

Vocals – Derek Day

Guitars – Dane Pieper / Griffin Tucker

Bass – Franco Gravante

Drums – Chuck McKissock

Classless-Act-Band-Promo

Why is Classless Act Unique?

Here’s the fun part. On first listen, checking out music videos, photo content & live appearances, you’re going to wonder where the hell did these young dudes come from.

The former drummer is London Husdon, Slash’s offspring. I had the pleasure of speaking to London & former guitarist Nico Tsangaris on the Appetite for Distortion podcast hosted by Brando in 2018 at IHeart Radio.

It was an awesome conversation with these driven rock n rollers. From what I dug up, both stopped playing with Classless Act sometime mid 2021, but not before doing massive shows with Slash and the like. I am assuming this is where Classless Act’s music industry mysteriousness comes from.

I read through a few interviews and the band glosses over how they jumped to a Motley Cue / Poison Stadium Tour off the debut album. The focus of the bio seems to be that Classless Act got together using social media and then poof, stadium tour with all the pro sauce.

Classless-Act-Live

The Motley Crue Stadium Tour came out of nowhere with minimal touring experience, seemingly no more industry connections and most likely lacking serious funds to buy on, which is a thing or favor deals between entertainment lawyers.

This is hardly a shade being thrown. When there’s blood in the water go for broke and exploit all opportunities. Every band / musician needs to seize every and any opportunity because it may be the only one you ever get.

Pro tip to all the young bands: talk to literally everyone everywhere because you never know when someone with juice will take a liking to you.

Where Did Drummer, London Hudson, Go?

Since this blog is about Classless Act, I will make this quick, but I think it is worth mentioning since it is Slash’s kid and this record sounds like a fresher Slash album.

London & Nico, package deal I assume, parted with Classless Act sometime in 2021 and then began SUSPECT208 with Scott Weiland’s kid, Noah Weiland, and Rob Trujillo’s kid, Tye Trujillo.

The band released two singles, “Long-Awaited” and “You Got It”, before breaking up due to multiple singer personal issues. They drew resemblances to Velvet Revolver.

London & Nico then began S8NT ELECTRIC (I guess pronounced Saint Electric). You can listen to S8NT ELECTRIC on Spotify.

Pro tip: Don’t name your band something impossible to remember. It makes googling unnecessary and annoying.

I checked out S8NT ELECTRIC and it has cool trashy genuine rock n roll vibe but the songs need a lot of work. The songs are way raw without any hooks and the performance on the recordings is questionable The song “Subliminal” I’m digging though.

S8NT-ELECTRIC-band-los-angeles
S8NT ELECTRIC

Welcome to the Show – Review

All in all it’s a solid hard rock album that I think I would recommend to those into 80’s hard rock, but that’s a question mark. To be honest I didn’t want to like this album because the lead single, “Give It To Me”, was a pile of dated management polished cheese.

I read a lot of other reviews about this record out of curiosity and I was surprised on how praised it was. I will definitely give credit where due. The band’s performance is killer. There is a ton of energy, charisma & personality delivered on each track.

I give a general recommendation to hard rock fans to check this album out because there is something for everyone, but the kitchen sink approach to this album is out of control. I have no idea who Classless Act is.

What is this band’s actual sound? Is Classless Act another label management product where a team of 50 plus writes the music, another team dresses them and then they perform to a sea of 50 plus rock fans? Did Vince Neil secretly put this band together to make himself seem relevant again, if so maybe genius?

The weird marketing of Welcome to the Show is exaggerated by not taking advantage of the summer release. The song “Made in Hell” is a well written super pop song using One Direction and Five Seconds of Summer as a model. It is a happy beachy hooky song made unique with Derek’s manic voice.

You would think this would be the first obvious single to capture the younger market partying on boats at the beach etc… Just do what Diamond Dave would do. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Twenty somethings in bikinis (not mom or grandma in a bikini) partying with some young studs rocking out and taking over the world.

How was “Circles” not used as the second summer single? You take the same twenty somethings chicks from the beach put them in pick up trucks, daisy dukes & cowboy hats, get a young pop country pop star to sing one word and all of a sudden you’re riding the Country Music pop charts. Hopefully they push this song at some point because it deserves attention.

The album uses both Vince Neil and Justin Hawkins as a means to push this band, but why? Harry Styles, Taylor Momsen or even Lizzy Hale could have fit somewhere giving more relevant features. It’s funny because Classless Act even acknowledge this by not having Vince Neil in the music video where his vocals are featured.

Instead there’s a half ass ridiculous cut to 80’s Vince Neil drawn on an easel where the viewer stares at his mysterious vocals coming through the drawing as if a scene from Ghostbusters. In regards to Justin Hawkins he is barely audible on the track and it seems like a payday. Good for you, you deserve it. The last Darkness album, Motorheart, in 2021 was absolutely amazing, possibly better than the debut.

Listening to this album repeatedly I keep thinking it should have been split into multiple EP’s focusing on each spectrum of rock this album hits. The song “Give it to Me” could have been an old school English stand alone single not appearing on the album just in single format maybe with a b-side.

I really hope Classless Act move to a younger tour with bands like Palaye Royale, Black Honey, The Pretty Reckless or vets like My Chemical Romance. The talent in this band is so high and deserves to be treated with a more relevant touch.

I am routing hard for Classless Act and hope the band is given more opportunity to showcase what they want to showcase rather than be forced to read from the script. This band has so much talent and I look forward to the sophomore effort.

Cheers lads!

Classless Act Videos

Tour

Classless Act tour dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.