One of the most rewarding aspects of doing what we do here at May The Rock Be With You is discovering a new favorite band that you otherwise may never have heard of. Especially from a country such as Germany for instance, where Torpedohead are from. (If you want to find out more about Torpedohead, you can read our “Best Thing You’ve Never Heard” feature by clicking “right here”).
On this, their debut album, the trio of Torpedohead deliver a mighty fine collection of gritty rock n roll that is a melting pot of 80‘s inspired hard rock such as LA Guns and early era Faster Pussycat, through to the 70’s inspired rock of Michael Monroe and the Electric Angels, throw in a healthy dose of punk attitude ala the New York Dolls and add in some Rolling Stones for good measure. This certainly gives you a pretty good idea of what you can expect from “Lovesick Avenue”.
With a high emphasis on songs chock full of tasty lead guitar work, razor sharp riffs and killer melodies and hooks, the album is strong from start to finish. Kicking off with a pulsating bassline, “Wall Of Love” is one of the harder rocking tracks on the album and right up front let’s you know what you are in for with “Torpedohead”. “Brand New Sinsation” and “Abuse Myself” follow in the same manner, whilst lead vocalist Sven Spacebrain’s whisky soaked raspiness is perfectly suited to the music and lyrics that the band deliver.
When it comes to the use of guitars in the album, we take our hat off to chief songwriter and guitarist Sven for the instantly memorable chord progressions and guitar solo’s, some of which are as memorable as the chorus’s and melodies themselves! How often do we usually press “skip” when it comes to an instrumental intro/prelude track on albums...well I quite often do, as some are just plain irrelevant. But in the case of “Grange Road” the 1.49 minute acoustic/slide guitar track, it’s the perfect intro to the country inspired “Ticket To The Moon” which is one of my favorite tracks, just love the lead guitar throughout this song.
The moody “The Devil Inside Her Eyes” and the harmonica laced epicness of “Heaven” illustrate the band are equally as adept at slowing things down as they are on full tilt rock numbers such as the anthemic “Six Years Dead” which is the albums heaviest song. First single “Broken Flowers”, along with “Love Rocket and the tongue in cheekness of “Spacequeen” offer some more catchy rock numbers. With their own interpretation of Elvis’s “Burning Love”, the album closes in rocking style.
For those that love honest classic rock n roll with a harder edge, where the emphasis is on catchy songs, then you too should find “Lovesick Avenue” a highly charming and enjoyable CD that will drag you in deeper and deeper the more you listen.
*Reviewed by: Scotty Rock
