OK, let’s get this out of the way up front, I’m a Keel fan, a BIG Keel fan, In fact they are one of my all time favourite bands.
Ron Keel first erupted onto the Hard Rock scene in Los Angeles in 1983 fronting the band Steeler, a band that would also launch the career for a young guitarist by the name of Yngwie J. Malmsteen.
After releasing only the one album with Steeler, Ron Keel re-grouped and formed a new band under his namesake KEEL. KEEL went on to enjoy moderate success including high rotation on MTV and US Radio with there anthem “The Right To Rock” as well as lesser successful singles “Because The Night” and “Somebody’s Waiting”, but by 1989 and 5 albums later KEEL called it a day and the members went their separate ways.
Fast Forward to 2010 and KEEL have re-united and released their 7th album “The Streets Of Rock N Roll”, the first new full studio album since 1987’s stellar Self Titled “KEEL” album, being that “Back In Action” (1996) was a collection of re-mixed recordings of unreleased songs & alternate versions and that “Larger Than Live” (1989) only featured 6 new studio songs and 6 live tracks.
Things kick off in typical KEEL fashion like they had been frozen in 1989 with the awesome opener “Hit The Ground Running” featuring that familiar 80’s Metal guitar tone riffing its way through the verse with Ron delivering his gruff yet still melodic vocals over the top, showing he still has the chops some 20 years later. Marc Ferrari and Bryan Jay’s tasteful and melodic guitar work shines through on the title track “Streets Of Rock N Roll” a great melodic rocker. “Come Hell Or High Water” is reminiscent of “The Right To Rock” era KEEL as it has a harder edge and a faster pace to it.
Listening to the album there’s no denying Ron Keel’s vocals have held up well through the years and he puts in a great performance on the ballad “Does Anybody Believe”. “ Push & Pull” starts off great, with an excellent verse but is let down by a fairly bland chorus, making it one of the weaker tracks on the album. Fortunately where “Push & Pull” lets the side down with it’s chorus , “No More Lonely Nights” is right there to make up for it, a classic example of KEEL at their very best, cranking out a melodic hard rock anthem, one of the strongest tracks on the album for sure. “Devil May Care (But I Don’t)” sounds like KEEL channeling AC/DC and while it’s not a weak song, it’s not a strong song either. “Looking For A Good Time” sounds like it could have come from 1989’s “Larger Than Live” album, as it’s slightly more melodic and has a bit of that good time vibe similar to “Fool For A Pretty Face”.
Where as the track “Gimme That” is all business and a straight forward brooding rocker. KEEL have always been patriotic to their American homeland in their lyrics and the song “Hold Steady” follows that tradition as it salutes the efforts of the US troops for defending their nation, the song itself is another great melodic rock anthem in typical KEEL form. The track “Live” features an upbeat riff similar to “I Said The Wrong Thing To The Right Girl” from the 1987 self titled album, but the chorus is much more mellow and doesn’t quite “Live” up to it’s title.
Almost all of the songs on “Streets Of Rock N Roll” feature a massive chorus with a wall of vocals and album closer “Brothers In Blood” is no exception, a great stomping rhythm from drummer Dwain Miller, another great rock anthem and one of the strongest tracks on the album. A great way to close out what is overall an excellent album and a welcome return from KEEL.
