Although having only come together a couple of years ago, Melbourne based outfit Dead Star Renegade have launched their sterling debut effort Blackwing, an album that boasts all the essential ingredients required for a classic hard rock album, without sounding like it’s well and truly past its used by date.
The opening track Born To Lose is a big riff filled monster of a track with Matt Owen and Vik Kundra giving the band plenty of power on the guitar front, while bassist Tim Dobie and drummer Jay Pizzey provide the all-important backline. But the real star of the show here is vocalist Jimmy VanZeno, who is able to keep things melodic enough to catch the ear of the listener, but at the same time keep enough of a raw edge on proceedings to ensure those who simply want something to rock out to, can indeed enjoy the song for its huge collective rocking sound.
Supersonic retains the groove and riffs of the opener with its big sing-a-long choruses and flourishes of guitar shredding, while Tommy Gun ups the ante in terms of pacing and energy, and is a stand out with a powerhouse performance from VanZeno out front.
The slower-paced Time Standing is another strong cut with an infectious chorus and the song’s swinging back and forth between gentle and hard rocking passages, while on Blackwing and The Serpent, the band showcase a greater progressive influence rising to the surface within their overall hard rock sound.
20 To Life, One More Time and the fast paced Outta My Head are the kind of straight forward rocking anthems that would sound perfect performed live in front of a audience, while Tidal closes out the album with a song that’s mid-paced and moody, but nonetheless a mood that perfectly captures the essence of what Dead Star Renegade are all about.
The Melbourne music scene has produced some impressive acts over the years, and the latest name to add to that ever increasing list is Dead Star Renegade. They’re the kind of quality act where success isn’t so much a matter of if, but only when.
Best Track:Down To The River
If You Like These, You’ll Like This:Freestate FREESTATE, Down To The Bone ELECTRIC MARY
In A Word: Rockin’
