By Monk
There is no doubt about it, but the epithet NWoCR has been one of the most emergent in recent years: but, unlike other acronyms, such as NWoBHM or NWoTHM, it is one of those which does not associate itself with just one particular style of music. Yes, it is perhaps most closely associated with the re-emergence of blues-rock and AOR-style revivalists, but it also has the advantage of being able to cover a wide range of other stylistic sub-genres, from doom and stoner to, in this case, the cheesier-than-a-block-of-cheddar Sunset Strip revivalism of the likes of Mädhouse.
Not that these guys would know the Strip if they face-planted its bitumen after a night on the tequila, or the Whiskey collapsed onto their fake leather-clad shoulders, as they hail from about as far away from the city of fallen angels as you quite possibly can admit – the comparatively refined nether regions of the Austrian Tyrol, perhaps better known for its overly tight lederhosen than similarly squeaky spandex…
I saw a brilliant post on social media the other day. It was to mark the 40th anniversary of the launch of MTV and said “thanks for 14 years of music”. Given how the channel seems to have disappeared up its own arse and into the realm of fourth rate “reality” shite, it was an apposite comment. But, what has it got to do with this review, I hear you scream while you spit your tequila in my face? Well, with this imperative second album, Mädhouse have presented us with a collection of tunes that, with a few suitably (or maybe not so) glossy videos, most likely would have made heavy rotation on the likes of ‘Headbanger’s Ball’.
All the obvious reverential base touches are here, from the Crüe to the Row, that Poison chalice to the Sheffield steel of ‘Hysteria’-era Leppard. But Mädhouse prove that they most definitely are alumni of the school of hair metal, as there are plenty more homages present, if ever so subtly, from Ratt through to Enuff Z’Nuff, Warrant to Bang Tango, Autograph to Slaughter: hell, there’s even a touch or two of nascent Metallica in some of the album’s heavier moments, which in turn sit alongside neat references to the punkiness of Hanoi Rocks and the lascivious crudeness of GN’R (which, of course, is almost inevitable).
Taken at face value, ‘Bad Habits’ is a hugely enjoyable album. One of those that transports you back to the heady days of sneaking a six pack into your bedroom and turning up the stereo just loud enough that it didn’t have your dad banging down the door… but then, your dad just wanted to join the party, didn’t he? In which case, crack open another tin and turn that dial up another couple of notches…
- ‘Bad Habits’ is released tomorrow (Friday 23 April). You can get your copy HERE.
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