Laced In Lust - First Bite
Album review by; DeeDee
There was a time when you could tell an Aussie band by their sound, it was usually not unlike AC/DC and/or Rose Tattoo. These days the likes of Airbourne and The Radio Sun, for instance, have changed all of that, leading the way and influencing others to seek innovative and original themes. So there are some exciting new bands appearing down under and ‘Laced In Lust’ is one of them. With a Hard Rock slant, these guys from Adelaide have been going since 2012 and leapt to fame in their native land after winning the “Rocking Angel Bourbon", Battle of the Bands awards. The prize money paid for a debut single called ‘Fire’ and tours, including two European ones. They have been on the road with Crashdiet, Fear Factory and The Tygers Of Pan Tang, not to mention an arena tour with Status Quo. With Two EPs already in their tucker bag, (‘Firing lines’ (2014) and ‘Party’s Over’ (2016) ) it is now time for the debut album ‘First Bite”, which is out on the Italian label Rockshots Records.
‘Save Me (L.I.L. Woman)’ with a cheesy, sleazy rhythm, the first song on the album and provides stacks of glammie vocals from Torsten Steel and also hints at the type of debauched music that hit L.A. in the late 80s. Nice intro, easy on the ear and packed with sex appeal. ‘Hot Tonight’ sweeps in with tapping guitar riffs and harmony, again there is the hint of warm Californian sidewalks, glittery scarves and lycra. It turns tail in the second half, with more delving guitar that adds bite. Eventually going out all guns blazing, it does catch with its simplistic chorus. Nice strings fire up for ‘Hard in This Town’ and by now it’s evident that, ‘Laced In Lust’ have acquired quite a decent sound, boyish harmonies and a robust rocking base, this is pretty cool. The acoustic ballad ‘Your Name’ is sweet and the lyrics are so adorable.
‘I wrote your name in the sand but the waves washed it away, I’m living my life by changing tides, I wrote your name in the sky but the gusts blew it away’
‘Firing Lines’ Invokes the spirit of war but is about more moral problems and staying out of controversy. This is one hell of a track, apart from the well written lines; the tempo gathers momentum like a hurricane and drops itself right into your unsuspecting face. ‘Party’s Over’ takes me back to those Quo songs from the 70’s and there’s an old style rock groove to accompany more seductiveness from Torsten. ‘On Parole’ continues this theme, full on like Status Quo during their ‘Piledriver’ years, is there is a bit of Francis Rossi in these guy’s blood?! Oh, Alan Lancaster is Aussie maybe that’s the link! Wow it continues, ‘I remember When I was Young’ is serious 12 bar boogie and ‘Roadhouse Blues’ springs to mind, what a brilliant track, I can’t think of many that play like this these days. Faster and more punch drunk on ‘Fire’ which has some nice bass tones care of ‘Oopie’ to introduce it and it takes off with more of a stabbing motion. A cool guitar solo and a pounding crush takes it out. ‘Rock You’ is 12 bar blues heaven. A steady, repeating chord changer, that explodes into a chorus of ‘Baby she likes rock an’ roll’. Another refreshing take, on a well trodden Blues Rock path.
Track 11, ‘Lipservice’ is more down and moody, although we do return to a chirpy ‘Whoa-oh-oh-oh’ chorus line. ‘Black Heart Murder’ with the redhead vice, the words smoothly string along. It’s another with harsher vocals and screaming from the B.V’s. Not complicated yet the effect is overwhelmingly satisfying and again there is excellent guitar shrieking to end on. ‘I’m Alone’ is boozy bar-room rock with that laid-back boogie sound again. This does have an Aussie air about it, must be the reference to booze! No wonder these guys have been asked to join Quo etc on tour, I can feel the abundance of energy on this one. ‘Sunrise’ is the 14th yes 14th song and brings us gently down, to enjoy mellowness and a soppy love story to finish on, perfect.
I really enjoyed this album, the changes in style from sleaze to boogie and being able to re-create that old school sound, is not easy. These guys know how to party that’s for sure. I would love to hear them cover ‘Roadhouse Blues’, maybe I can suggest that for a future gig?
There are links below on how to order a copy of First Bite and for the bands social pages.
4.5 /5
Album Order (CD) - https://bit.ly/3k083LU
Previous singles;
"Save Me (L.I.L. Woman)" - YouTube (Lyric Video)
Hard In This Town" - YouTube (Music Video)
Track Listing;
1. Save Me (L.I.L. Woman)
2. Hot Tonight
3. Hard In This Town
4. Your Name
5. Firing Lines
6. Party’s Over
7. On Parole
8. I Remember When I Was Young
9. Fire
10. Rock You
11. Lip Sservice
12. Black Heart Murder
13. I’m Alone
14. Sunrise
Laced In Lust is;
Torsten Steel - Lead Vox/Guitar
Nick Robinson - Lead Guitar/Vox
Oopie - Bass/Vox
Russell Boyd - Drums/Vox
Caleb Wynne (Touring Bass Player)
For more info;
Lacedinlust.com.au
Facebook.com/lacedinlust
Instagram.com/lacedinlustband
#LacedInLust
#Debutalbum
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#rockmediauk
#Crashdiet
#FearFactory
#statusquo
#ACDC
#Rockshotsrecords
#Tygersofpantang