Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild
Review by; John
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If you've not heard of Crazy Lixx, and you're a fan of 80's hair rock, then you're in for a treat. The Swedish band are keeping one of the best genre's of rock alive and thank god they are. For me, the 80's hard rock era was the golden age of rock, then again I guess I am biased because that's the era I grew up in.
Crazy Lixx were formed in 2002, and after many line up changes, finally found stability and released their debut album, Loud Minority, in 2007. Their latest offering, Forever Wild, is their sixth studio album and you can feel the 80's running through it. If you are a fan of that era you will instantly here influences from the likes of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Whitesnake and many more.
On the 2nd track, Break Out, you'd be forgiven if you thought you were listening to an early pre Slippery When Wet Bon Jovi track, then on the 3rd, Silent Thunder, you would swear you're listening to Def Leppard in their prime. Perhaps it's a little unfair to directly compare them to other bands but hey it's no band thing, if you love 80's hair metal then what's not to like.
Don't get me wrong though, they have their own unique style as well. Crazy Lixx are pioneers of Sweden's rock music scene, and one of the last standing bands of the new wave of Swedish sleaze. They would be at home on the big open air stadium gigs with their sing-a-long anthems.
There is no bad songs on this album, no album fillers, every single song takes you back to the golden era of hair rock, 10 great tracks that will have you strumming your air guitar and taking you back to your youth when perhaps you were in a band and thought you were going to be the next Bon Jovi or Motley Crue.
The 7th track, It's You, is one of the strongest tracks on the album, a true 80's rock anthem, actually sounds a bit like Steel Panther but without the rude lyrics. Obviously, this track would be a more radio friendly than a Steel Panther song.
As I was progressing through the album, I was really hoping for a rock ballad, any good rock bands in the 80's had at least one rock ballad, the closest to this point was the aforementioned It's You, but I was worried I wasn't going to get at least one ballad, but the eighth track, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, finally delivered. Lighters on stand by.
Weekend Lover is another candidate for strongest track of the album, the track starts with a great guitar riff followed by great vocals from Danny Rexon. The album is rounded off with the title track Never Die (Forever Wild) which has you thinking it's going to be ballad but then the guitar kicks in and you are treated to the best track on the album, it's almost as if they were rewarding you for reaching the end of the album, this is such a great feel good song to round off a fantastic album.
Crazy Lixx, could be the best thing to come out of Sweden since Europe. If you haven't heard them before and you love 80's rock, do yourself a favour, get this album listened to, buy a copy and then go check out their back catalogue. It's like going back in time but without the need of a Delorean or a hot tub.
This get's full marks, 5 out of 5.
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Line-up:
Danny Rexon – vocals
Joél Cirera - drums
Jens Sjöholm – bass guitar
Chrisse Olsson - guitar
Jens Lundgren - guitar