Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019
SLEAZE ROXX READERS’ TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2019
Welcome to the 14th edition of Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums!
Once again, thank you to all the Sleaze Roxx readers for voting, and all the positive and complimentary comments that you provided about the website in your e-mails containing your votes.
For the people who enjoy statistics:
• There were 220 different albums from 219 artists that were voted for.
• BS Bones led the voting for groups that have never been covered on Sleaze Roxx before.
• Four out of the 10 albums featured on Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2019 appear on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019.
• There were seven artists / bands (including Spread Eagle who were only eligible this year since their last album dates back to 1993) appearing for the first time this year on a Sleaze Roxx readers’ year end top album list.
• L.A. Guns released two albums in 2019 — The Devil You Know and Another X-Mas in Hell EP — which both received votes, and with the former finishing in the readers’ Top 10.
• There are some surprising omissions on this year’s list with the streaks of both Airbourne (four previous albums) and Santa Cruz (three prior records) coming to an end on this year’s Sleaze Roxx readers’ top albums list. In addition, Tora Tora‘s very good new album Bastards of Beale did not make the cut.
Without further ado, here is the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019!
Olivier
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1. CRASHDïET – Rust – Total points: 885
CD Review — Interview — Band Website
After finishing as bridesmaid for the top spot on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end best albums list nine years ago with Generation Wild, Crashdïet have emerged at number one this time around edging out a strong challenge from Whitesnake‘s Flesh & Blood album. Ironically, Whitesnake finished at number one with Forevermore on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2011 just edging out Steel Panther‘s sophomore album Balls Out. Just like last year with Hardcore Superstar, a band that’s not from the ’80s era finished at #1 on the Sleaze Roxx readers poll, which gives me hope that many music listeners are not clinging to whatever is released from older ’70s and ’80s era bands but rather embracing the sleaze rock groups from the new generation. Of course, Crashdïet have been around for almost two decades but that’s besides the point! What makes Crashdïet‘s number one finish so outstanding is that the Swedish rockers are on their fourth lead vocalist with only five studio albums to their name but they come up with the goods time and time again. New singer Gabriel Keyes has proven so far to have the vocal chops and charisma to keep Crashdïet among the top sleaze rock bands in the world.
Crashdïet‘s “Idiots” video:
Crashdiet – “Idiots” (Official Music Video)
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album RUST. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/Rust – Scandinavian Fans: http:/…
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2. WHITESNAKE – Flesh & Blood – Total points: 830
CD Review — Band Website
As soon as I saw that Whitesnake were going to release a new studio album in 2019, I thought that the band’s latest release would likely be a contender for album of the year. Why you may ask? First and foremost, Whitesnake have always been immensely popular among Sleaze Roxx readers as their previous albums in the last 12 years did really well on the readers’ year-end surveys with Good To Be Bad finishing at #3 in 2008 and Forever More landing the #1 spot in 2011. Second of all, Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale has a knack with surrounding himself with top notch talent and his line-up for Flesh & Blood was no exception since it included guitarists Reb Beach (Winger, ex-Dokken) and Joel Hoekstra (ex-Night Ranger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Cher) along with drummer Tommy Aldridge (ex-Ozzy Osbourne). How can you go wrong when you are working with so much talent? If you take a close look at Whitesnake‘s finishes in the readers’ year-end lists, you’ll see that the veteran group is averaging a number two finish, which is the highest of any band that has released three albums or more since Sleaze Roxx has come up with its year-end readers’ poll.
Whitesnake‘s “Hey You (You Make Me Rock)” live video:
Whitesnake – Hey You (You Make Me Rock) – Flesh & Blood World Tour – A Video Gift For You
In Appreciation & Gratitude For A Fantastic Year!!! Audio taken from the album, “Flesh & Blood”. Stream or purchase a physical copy here: http://radi.al/Fle…
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3. CRAZY LIXX – Forever Wild – Total points: 725
CD Review — Band Website
Crazy Lixx‘s latest studio album Forever Wild finishing at #3 is the highest that the band has achieved on a Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end best album list since its debut album Loud Minority landed the same position 12 years ago. The melodic rockers’ studio releases have always finished very high on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end charts and for a while counting the voting results, I thought that Crazy Lixx might take the #1 spot this year. Crazy Lixx‘s line-ups have changed over the years but stalwarts Danny Rexon (lead vocals) and Joel Cirera (drums) remain since the debut album and the group’s sound continues to be based on big hooks and melodies. The question remains what will it take for Crazy Lixx to reach the top of the Sleaze Roxx readers’ charts? I don’t really know but it just feels like it’s a matter of time before the Swedish rockers nab that top spot once and for all. Whatever the case, Crazy Lixx have come up with another great album that has definitely been recognized as such by the Sleaze Roxx readers.
Crazy Lixx‘s “Break Out” video:
Crazy Lixx – “Break Out” (Official Music Video) #RockAintDead
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album FOREVER WILD. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/CrazyLixxForeverWildFoll…
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4. AMERICAN BOMBSHELL – Tattooed ‘N Bruised – Total points: 620
CD Review — Band Website
Every year, it seems that there is a group that has mobilized its fanbase to vote for it for the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end best albums list. Three years ago, Italian sleaze rockers Twisted landed the #5 spot out of the blue with their EP Dancin’ On Chaos on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2016 with only number one album votes. I suspect and will go on a limb and state that Twisted‘s EP would likely not have cracked the readers’ Top 20 without the benefit of those “fanbase” votes. Two years ago, it was Kickin Valentina that seemed to have sparked their fanbase which landed their album Imaginary Creatures at the #12 spot on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2017. Last year, it was Straight Six who seemed to have benefited from some voting from their fanbase for their debut full-length album Full Circle to finish at the #9 spot on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2018. While American Bombshell sure looked like they asked their fanbase to vote for them based on the types of votes that Sleaze Roxx received, the reality is that they would have likely finished in the readers’ Top 20 albums regardless of those extra “fanbase” votes and by my estimation, around the #17 spot. It’s no surprise that Sleaze Roxx readers have embraced American Bombshell‘s sophomore album Tattooed ‘n Bruised since the record was a contender to crack the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2019 and the Indiana state band’s grittier debut album No Regrets finished at #6 on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top 10 Albums of 2016.
American Bombshell‘s “Money On The Liquor” video:
American Bombshell – Money On The Liquor (Official Video)
American Bombshell – “Money On The Liquor (Official Video)The first single from the album “Tattooed ‘N Bruised”.Subscribe to American Bombshell’s channel: ht…
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5. MICHAEL MONROE – One Man Gang – Total points: 495
Interview — Band Website
Every year, there seems to be a couple of albums that Sleaze Roxx did not review that finish in the readers’ top 20 albums of the year. Former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe‘s latest studio release One Man Gang was not reviewed by Sleaze Roxx in 2019 but nothing should be implied from that. It’s another solid record from the ageless wonder who puts many of his peers to shame with his endless energy on stage despite his 57 years of age. One Man Gang‘s #5 finish is the highest that Monroe has ever charted on a Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end album list since Sensory Overdrive landed the #6 spot in 2011, Horns And Halos (which also wasn’t reviewed by Sleaze Roxx) ended up at #9 in 2013 and Blackout States finished at #15 in 2015. One Man Gang‘s #5 finish stops the downhill slide that Monroe had been experiencing on the Sleaze Roxx‘s year-end album poll since 2011. Along with Whitesnake, Crazy Lixx, Crashdïet, Hardcore Superstar and Steel Panther, Monroe is the only artist to have all of his studio releases figure among the Sleaze Roxx readers’ top 20 albums since that poll was started in 2006.
Michael Monroe‘s “Last Train To Tokyo” video:
Michael Monroe – Last Train To Tokyo (Official Video)
“Last Train To Tokyo” is the second single from Michael Monroe’s dirty and dangerous new album “One Man Gang” available to pre-order NOW on CD, Coloured Viny…
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6. THE DEFIANTS – Zokusho – Total points: 455
CD Review — Facebook
The Defiants consisting of Danger Danger band members Bruno Ravel (bass, keyboards) and Rob Marcello (lead guitar) along with former lead vocalist Paul Laine actually obtained more votes from Sleaze Roxx readers for their sophomore album Zokusho than their self-titled debut album back in 2016 but this time, they finished at the #6 position far away from Crashdïet‘s top spot (the Swedish rockers had nearly double the votes) instead of at #2 in 2016 where they were just edged out by (surprisingly) Metallica‘s forgettable Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. Danger Danger continue to inexplicably be on hiatus when it comes to recording and releasing new material even though all of the band members — Ravel, Marcello, drummer Steve West (who appeared as a guest drummer on apparently all the tracks on Zokusho) and singer Ted Poley — continue to record and release new material but not as a collective unit. Poley still releases solo albums on a fairly regular basis and is apparently working on Tokyo Motor Fist‘s sophomore album. Given that all Danger Danger band members are still actively recording, one wonders what it will take for them to actually record another album together. In the meantime, The Defiants are there to fill the void and Zokusho‘s high finish on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end album poll shows that many people are really enjoying what they have to offer.
The Defiants‘ “Fallin’ For You” video:
The Defiants – “Fallin’ For You” (Official Music Video) #RockAintDead
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album ZOKUSHO. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/ZokushoTHE DEFIANTS are back …
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7. 99 CRIMES – 99 Crimes – Total points: 415
CD Review — Interviews (1, 2) — Facebook
Paul Lidel is most likely no stranger to most Sleaze Roxx readers as he has played guitar on Dirty Looks‘ best known albums Cool From The Wire (1988) and Turn of The Screw (1989), and he’s been a Dangerous Toys member for more than a quarter century. Lidel has also fronted his own bands for some time including Adrenaline Factor whose debut album almost made the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2007 and now 99 Crimes whose debut EP and full-length album also just missed the cut on Sleaze Roxx‘s year end album lists respectively for the last two years. However, Sleaze Roxx readers have recognized 99 Crimes‘ debut self-titled full-length album propelling it to a very impressive finish at #7 for 2019. It’s worth noting that 99 Crimes likely had a bit of help since they were one of a couple of bands who seemingly asked their fanbase to vote for them. The other suspects are American Bombshell, Spread Eagle and Kickin Valentina. Whatever the case, 99 Crimes‘ debut full-length album is a great record and totally deserves the recognition that it has achieved this year. It also ended up as the second best selling record for Perris Records in 2019.
99 Crimes‘ “Coming Down Like Rain” video:
99 Crimes – “Coming Down Like Rain”
Austin original hard rock band, 99 Crimes, performing “Coming Down like Rain.” Filmed and produced by Steve Miller @ AustinVideoSpecialist.comFilmed at the …
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8. TOM KEIFER – Rise – Total points: 410
CD Review — Concert Review — Band Website
When I found out that Tom Keifer‘s new solo album Rise would be getting released in 2019, I really thought that it would be a contender for the top spot on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end top albums list given the apparent soft spot that Sleaze Roxx readers have in their hearts for Cinderella and the impressive #3 finish for Keifer‘s debut solo album The Way Life Goes on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2013. Accordingly, Rise‘s #8 finish — while more than respectable — is kind of disappointing for an artist of Keifer‘s stature. Nevertheless, when you think back to all of the heartaches and tribulations that Keifer has gone through over the years — vocal paralysis, being told he’ll never sing again, bleeding vocal chords, seven vocal surgeries, legal battles, collapsing before a show and getting rushed to a hospital — the man is a true survivor and his passion for music is obvious. One can only hope that we will not have to wait another six years for Keifer‘s next solo album.
Tom Keifer‘s “Rise” video:
Tom Keifer #keiferband “Rise” (Official Music Video)
“Rise” the title track from the brand new Tom Keifer #keiferband release “Rise”http://www.tomkeifer.com/preorder/https://orcd.co/tomkeiferriseThis collection…
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9. L.A. GUNS (feat. Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns) – The Devil You Know – Total points: 390
CD Review — Concert Reviews (1, 2) — Interview — Band Website
While finishing at #9 on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019 is likely cause for celebration for any band, this finish has to likely be deemed a disappointment for the L.A. Guns entity led by Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns since the band finished at #1 in style (with more than double the votes of runner-up Eclipse) with The Missing Peace on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2017. This time around, L.A. Guns featuring Lewis and Guns just barely made the Top 10 and the words “album of the year” for The Devil You Know simply were seemingly never uttered compared to The Missing Peace‘s stunning reception in 2017. What went wrong you might think? The Devil You Know was released in April while The Missing Peace benefited from a mid-October release and traditionally, albums that are released in the latter part of the year tend to do better in Sleaze Roxx‘s year end polls. The old adage “out of sight, out of mind” might have cursed The Devil You Know. Another potential reason might be all the bad mouthing that Lewis and Guns did towards their former L.A. Guns bandmates Steve Riley and Kelly Nickels from the time that the duo’s version of L.A. Guns was announced to appear at the 2019 edition of the M3 Rock Festival to just before that festival took place. Were some people turned off by the comments ushered by Lewis and Guns during those four months or so? The last potential reason is perhaps the most obvious one being that The Missing Peace was likely simply a better album than The Devil You Know.
L.A. Guns‘ “Rage” video:
L.A. Guns – “Rage” (Official) #RockAintDead
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album THE DEVIL YOU KNOW. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/TheDevilYouKnow | …
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10. ECLIPSE – Paradigm – Total points: 375
CD Review — Band Website
Funny enough, Paradigm garnered more votes from Sleaze Roxx readers than Eclipse‘s previous album Monumentum but the former just squeaked into the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 10 Albums for 2019 while the latter nabbed the #2 spot in 2017. Accordingly, one could say that Eclipse have attracted even more fans with their latest studio album Paradigm. One could also state that this is Eclipse‘s best ever finish on a Sleaze Roxx readers’ poll since the group tallied its highest voting total with 375 points. Nevertheless, going from #2 in 2017 to #10 in 2019 will seem like a backwards step but it really shouldn’t be viewed that way. With their last five albums — Are You Ready To Rock (2008), Bleed & Scream (2012), Armageddonize (2015), Monumentum (2017) and Paradigm (2019) — Eclipse have been one of the most consistently great bands. Paradigm offers a little bit of everything that you would expect from Eclipse from a beautiful ballad (“Take Me Home”) to an epic like track (“The Masquerade”) to what can likely be heralded as the ultimate Eclipse song (“Viva La Victoria”).
Eclipse‘s “Viva La Victoria” video:
Eclipse – “Viva La Victoria” (Official Music Video)
Subscribe To Our Channel: http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | Shop our U.S. & EU webstores: http://radi.al/FrontiersMusic | From the album PARADIGM. Buy or S…
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11. PRETTY MAIDS – Unleash Your Madness – Total points: 330
Band Website
It’s nice to see Pretty Maids‘ 16th studio album Unleash Your Madness getting some recognition given that it probably didn’t get the media push that it deserved. The reason for that is that about a month prior to the album’s release on November 8th, Pretty Maids frontman Ronnie Atkins announced that he was suffering from lung cancer. That understandably meant that the Danish veteran rockers had to cancel all of their upcoming shows until the end of January 2020 while Atkins focused on his health and getting treatments. The good news is that Atkins announced earlier this month that he had no more signs of cancer but the bad news is that Unleash Your Madness probably did not get the push that it deserved. Nevertheless, Sleaze Roxx readers have recognized Unleash Your Madness as one of the top albums of the year and that’s even though Sleaze Roxx didn’t even review the record. It’s worth noting that although Pretty Maids‘ previous studio album Kingmaker finished at #13 on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2016, Unleash Your Madness was able to nab the #11 spot on this year’s readers’ list but with about 150% more votes this time around.
Pretty Maids‘ “Serpentine” video:
Pretty Maids – “Serpentine” (Official Music Video)
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album UNDRESS YOUR MADNESS. Get your copy NOW: https://radi.al/UndressYourMadne…
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12. SPREAD EAGLE – Subway To The Stars – Total points: 325
CD Review — Interview — Band Website
New York “street” rockers Spread Eagle are making their debut this year on a Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end best of albums list but it’s simply because the group has not released an album since its sophomore effort Open To The Public saw the light of day in 1993. Only two members, lead vocalist Ray West and bassist Rob De Luca remain from the classic line-up that released the classic debut self-titled album in 1990. Long gone from the line-up are guitarist Paul Di Bartolo (now known as Salvadore Poe and living mainly in India) and drummer Tommy Gallo, and in are guitarist Ziv Shalev and drummer Rik De Luca. Spread Eagle disbanded back in 1995 before reforming back in 2006 but it wasn’t until 13 years later that they actually released their third album Sound of Speed. In an interview with Sleaze Roxx back in December last year, Rob De Luca explained what was different this time around for the band to forge ahead with a new record. The bassist stated: I think it’s a combination of two things. One, Ziv Shalev, the guitarist, who is just fantastic! Getting him in really made it sound like Spread Eagle again, and then still, it took us a little while. So, I think that the second factor was we really had a high level of morale after the European tour [in 2017], and Frontiers asked us, and we really felt confident. We were having so much fun. There was so much camaraderie. I think it’s a combination of Ziv, the European tour and Frontiers, which made it different than the previous times. We didn’t have any songs. We weren’t writing. We didn’t have a single song that we had written with Ziv. It just felt different. We knew that we could do it. At least, I felt that we could do it and the guys agreed.”
Spread Eagle‘s “Sound of Speed” video:
Spread Eagle – “Sound Of Speed” (Official Music Video)
Subscribe here for more videos – http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album SUBWAY TO THE STARS. Get your copy NOW: http://radi.al/SubwayToTheStars …
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13. BACKYARD BABIES – Silver And Gold – Total points: 290
Band Website
I must confess that one band that I really haven’t ever got into was the Backyard Babies. Luckily, the Sleaze Roxx readers are there to remind me that this is apparently a band worth checking out. The group formed back in 1987 and has released eight studio albums to date with Diesel & Power (1994), Total 13 (1998), Making Enemies Is Good (2001), Stockholm Syndrome (2003), People Like People Like People Like Us (2006), Backyard Babies (2008), Four By Four (2015) and Silver & Gold (2019). The line-up that has been together since 1989 consists of lead vocalist / rhythm guitarist Nicke Borg, lead guitarist Dregen (who released a killer self-titled solo album in 2013), bassist Johan Blomqvist and drummer Peder Carlsson. The Backyard Babies have been quite consistent in releasing albums every two to four years since their debut (aside from the seven year gap between their sixth and seventh studio albums) so it appears that Sleaze Roxx readers can expect a new studio album from the band by 2022.
Backyard Babies‘ “Yes To All No” video:
BACKYARD BABIES – Yes To All No (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
BACKYARD BABIES – Yes To All No (OFFICIAL VIDEO). Taken from the album “Sliver and Gold”, out March 1st, 2019.Buy or listen to the album here: https://backya…
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14. MADHOUSE – Money Talks Bullshit Walks – Total points: 260
CD Review — Interview — Band Website
There are many newcomers to the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end best albums list this year but three of them — American Bombshell (who finished at #4), 99 Crimes (#7) and Spread Eagle (#12) — had some of their fanbase help them out with the voting, two newcomers (Backyard Babies at #13 and D-A-D at #16) have been around for more than two decades, and one newcomer (Suicide Bombers at #18) is on its fourth album. Madhouse hail from Austria and have only been around since 2017. Their debut album Money Talks Bullshit Walks finished at #3 on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2019 so it’s fantastic to see Sleaze Roxx readers identify and recognize a hot new band as having one of the best albums of the year. With song titles like “Boom Boob Shaker”, the title track, “Push Push Rip And Tear” and “Sick Sex”, you know exactly what you’re getting with Madhouse in terms of the lyrical sophistication. Luckily, the band backs up its juvenile lyrics with some kick ass music that has apparently make its mark on Sleaze Roxx readers.
Madhouse‘s “Hard ‘N Heavy” video:
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15. QUEENSRŸCHE – The Verdict – Total points: 260
CD Review — Band Website
Since hooking up with frontman Todd La Torre, Queensrÿche continue to generate about the same number of votes from Sleaze Roxx readers from one album to the next with 186 points with their self-titled album for a #11 finish in 2013, 219 points with Condition Hüman for the #10 spot in 2015 and now 260 points for #15 in 2019. The revamped Queensrÿche line-up of La Torre, bassist Eddie Jackson, and guitarists Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren, seems to have lost quite a bit of melody with its new songs. If the band was to release something in the vain of 1990’s Empire, one would think that such an album would be a contender for album of the year among Sleaze Roxx readers. Perhaps the group simply needs former lead vocalist Geoff Tate and guitarist Chris DeGarmo back in the line-up? Tate continues to celebrate Queensrÿche‘s past as he is currently touring and playing the albums Rage For Order and Empire in their entirety. While Tate appears ready to partake in some sort of reunion with his former bandmates, it seems there’s almost zero chance that DeGarmo would rejoin the band. In the meantime, we are left with a Queensrÿche line-up that continues to record and release new music, and that seems to satisfy a certain “base” of Sleaze Roxx readers.
Queensrÿche‘s “Blood of The Levant” video:
QUEENSRYCHE – Blood Of The Levant (Official Video)
QUEENSRYCHE – Blood Of The Levant (Official Video). Order now! https://Queensryche.lnk.to/TheVerdict’The Verdict’ out March 1, 2019. Director: David BrodskyP…
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16. D-A-D – No Prayer For The Loud – Total points: 250
Band Website
Another group that had admittedly never really been on my radar is Danish rockers D-A-D who have been around since 1982 and are led by the Binzer brothers Jesper (lead vocals) and Jacob (lead guitar). Funny enough, Sleaze Roxx has never reviewed an album from D-A-D even though the group has released a shitload of studio albums consisting of Call of The Wild (1986), D-A-D Draws A Circle (1987), No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims (1989), Riskin’ It All (1991), Helpyourselfish (1995), Simpatico (1997), Everything Glows (2000), Soft Dogs (2002), Scare Yourself (2005), Monster Philosophy (2008), DIC·NII·LAN·DAFT·ERD·ARK (2011) and A Prayer For The Loud (2019). Once again and similar to the situation with the Backyard Babies, the Sleaze Roxx readers have spoken suggesting that they would like more coverage of this veteran band. Time will tell but at the very least, Sleaze Roxx is long overdue for a review of a D-A-D album.
D-A-D‘s “A Prayer For The Loud” video:
D-A-D – A Prayer For The Loud (2019) // Official Music Video // AFM Records
Taken from the album “A Prayer For The Loud” 31st May, 2019Order: https://shop.afm-records.de/d-a-d/Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Ij8H4IAppleMusic: https://appl…
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17. TESLA – Shock – Total points: 245
CD Review — Concert Reviews (1, 2, 3) — Band Website
Tesla should have been contending for the top spot on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019. The Sacramento, California rockers have the ’80s pedigree to fulfill the popularity votes and have delivered some amazing albums over the years including 2008’s Forever More. Although 2014’s Simplicity wasn’t that great by any means, it still finished at #5 on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ year-end list for that year. Accordingly, Tesla‘s #17 finish with Shock this year has to be viewed as a disappointment. Clearly, Sleaze Roxx readers were divided on the Def Leppard sounding tracks on Shock. Having enlisted Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen as their producer for Shock, it’s no surprise that the Mutt Lange student decided to turn Tesla‘s latest album into a slickly produced record. Apparently, at least one Tesla band member was sensitive to the Def Leppard comparisons since bassist Brian Wheat stated in an interview with UK’s Total MK shortly before Shock‘s release: “For someone to say this new record sounds like Def Leppard and Phil fucked up the band?… Fuck you is my attitude.” While Tesla may be proud of their experimentation on Shock, it strongly appears that Sleaze Roxx readers weren’t as enamoured by the final results.
Tesla‘s “Shock” video:
Tesla – Shock
Music video by Tesla performing Shock. © 2019 Tesla Electric Company Recordings, Inc., under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.http://vevo.ly/LlHKhZ
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18. SUICIDE BOMBERS – Murder Couture – Total points: 185
CD Review — Interview — Facebook
As much as Tesla‘s #17 finish has to be viewed as a disappointment, the Suicide Bombers‘ #18 finish is cause for celebration. The Norwegian sleaze rockers have improved on every one of their four studio albums to the point that their latest studio album Murder Couture snuck into the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2019. It’s worth mentioning that Murder Couture also made the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2019, which really just cements how good the record is. The Suicide Bombers led by frontman Chris Damien Doll have always put a premium on presentation with some of the best album covers around but now the music has caught up to the image and presentation. It will be interesting to see if the Suicide Bombers can keep their steady climb in popularity going with their next record. The way that the Suicide Bombers keep improving, and since their overall sound doesn’t deviate that much from one album to the next, I have little doubt that their next studio output will be even better than Murder Couture.
Suicide Bombers‘ “So Bad” video:
SUiCiDE BOMBERS – SO BAD (Official Music Video)
SUiCiDEBOMBERS #SuicideIdols #SoBad #overandmotherfuckingout #officialmusicvideo #rock #sleaze #ChrisDamienDollSUiCiDE BOMBERS – SO BAD (Official Music Vide…
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19. STEEL PANTHER – Heavy Metal Rules – Total points: 185
CD Review — Concert Reviews (1, 2) — Band Website
Steel Panther have kept their streak of albums on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ year end best albums list alive but just barely. The comedy glam metal rockers’ first two albums resonated very well with Sleaze Roxx readers since their debut album Feel The Steel finished at #3 in 2009 while their sophomore album Balls Out landed at #2 in 2011 (and just missed nabbing the top spot). From there, it’s been a bit of a downhill slide with All You Can Eat finishing at #7 in 2014 and Lower The Bar falling out of the top 10 by landing at #11 in 2017. This time around, I really thought that Steel Panther‘s fifth studio album Heavy Metal Rules wouldn’t make the readers’ cut but at the end, they ended up tied for last place on the readers’ Top 20 for 2019 with the Suicide Bombers and Kickin Valentina. While finishing in the readers’ Top 20 albums of the year is likely a great result for most bands, I will venture to say that this has to be a disappointing finish for Steel Panther who are just too talented not to be near the top for every one of their releases. In other words, Steel Panther can do a lot better! It’s time for Steel Panther to stop their downhill slide on the Sleaze Roxx readers’ top albums of the year and reclaim their place near the top. One can only conclude that Heavy Metal Rules is the worse Steel Panther studio album to date. It’s also the only studio album from the band that didn’t crack Sleaze Roxx‘s Top Ten Albums of the year list.
Steel Panther‘s “Fuck Everybody” song:
Steel Panther – Fuck Everybody – Official Video
Official video for Steel Panther’s “Fuck Everybody” from the new album ‘Heavy Metal Rules’ available NOW!Download/Stream ‘Heavy Metal Rules’ NOW: https://lnk…
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20. KICKIN VALENTINA – Chaos In Copehagen – Total points: 185
CD Review — Interview — Band Website
Kickin Valentina came back strong in 2019 after a drama filled latter part of 2018. That year, they had to deal with the abrupt departure of long-time lead vocalist Joe Edwards after the singer elected not to attend the prestigious Bang Your Head Festival only a few days before the group was to board a plane to fly over to Germany. The remaining band members ended up recruiting a temporary fill in singer (Asphalt Valentine‘s Joe Flynt) for a bunch of gigs. Later on, they announced their new lead vocalist (Stradlin’ Rosie‘s Brian Bezotte) who ended up sticking around for only a handful of months. Finally, in early 2019, Kickin Valentina announced that former Jetboy singer DK Revelle would be handling the lead vocal duties. As it turns out, Revelle was on the short list of guitarist Heber Pampillon and drummer Jimmy Berdine when the duo started the band many years ago and it appears that they finally got their man! If 2019 is any indication, Revelle has turned out to be the right choice as the kings of EPs’ third EP Chaos In Copenhagen was able to squeeze into the Sleaze Roxx readers’ Top 20 albums of the year despite only having three new studio songs. One can only imagine how well that Kickin Valentina would have done on the readers’ year-end list in 2019 had they released a full-length record.
Kickin Valentina‘s “Sweat” video:
Kickin’ Valentina – Sweat (Official Music Video)
“Sweat” is taken from the EP “Chaos In Copenhagen” released worldwide through Mighty Music / Target Group.Order CD and LP here: targetshop.dk/kickin-valentin…
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