scarlet violet
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Released: October 2008 |
When you say modern sleaze rock you’ll probably think of Sweden for most of it… Hardcore Superstar, Crash Diet, Crazy Lixx. But the most recent recommendation from my local sleaze DJ sent me to a country not always renowned for this genre of music… Italy. That’s about to change if these guys continue to make a name for themselves.
The anthemic and sing-a-long track Hey You! is an excellent start. Raunchy riffs, dirty glam / sleaze vocals and catchy as hell melodies. Scarlet Violet are at their strongest with tracks like that and Dead For Good.
Lyrically it has its share of cliché’s about sex and girls. Many will immediately say this album and band owes its creation to L.A. Guns / Mötley Crüe and the whole LA Sunset Strip spandex and big hair era, but there’s something more underground and punk about this album. There’s the bandanas and attitude, but less of the glittery glam and more of the punk of later years. The beauty of Scarlet Violet’s debut album for me is just how raw it is. It’s dirty, raw and naked. The not always perfect gang style backing vocals add to the rawness. It hasn’t been produced until it shines, and it sounds all the better for it.
To me this is the more like Hanoi Rocks or Lords of the New Church of the mid 80s. Lead singer L.A. is vocally very reminiscent of the much missed Stiv Bators of Lords of the New Church, with a sneering attitude that verges on post-punk, hell there’s even spitting on Dead For Good. Guitarist Fylo also impresses with some good solos.
Animated Freaks has something that strangely draws me to its rawness. It’s getting plenty of spins on my player right now and fills that gap for me, a band playing properly dirty old skool raw sleaze rock again.
by Lynn Wyeth
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Animated Freaks |
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