King Lizard – Viva La Decadence
KING LIZARD
VIVA LA DECADENCE
Released on December 1, 2010 (Psycho DeVito Records)
Track List:
01. Viva La Decadence
02. Rain On You
03. Rock N’ Roll Me
04. Hell Yeah
05. Video Lover
06. Kan’t Kill Rock N’ Roll
07. Never Be Mine
08. Not For Me
09. Riot
10. Taste The Hate
11. Outrageous
12. Late Nite Dynamite
Band Members:
Flash Roxx Sawyer – lead vocals and piano
Niro Knox – lead/rhythm guitar and backing vocals
Alice Rain – bass and backing vocals
Sky London – drums and backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
Andy Brook – intro solo (7)
Production:
Produced by King Lizard with Andy Brook and Chris Tsangarides.
Review:
I’ve been listening to King Lizard‘s debut album for a couple weeks now and it just seems to get better with every spin while begging to be cranked at high volume. Forming eight years ago, London’s King Lizard have had ample amounts of time to create this sleaze metal masterpiece — and recruiting producers Andy Brook and the infamous Chris Tsangarides add just enough professionalism to this dirty and sordid album.
If the x-rated artwork didn’t tip me off that I was about to sucked into one of the most radical albums of 2010, the opening screams of the title track surely did. A downright filthy song, “Viva La Decadence” goes right for the throat with exploding vocals and wailing guitar work… the type of track that would turn any band into underground legends. King Lizard could have regurgitated that opening song over and over again and still have ended up with an incredible album, but these guys aren’t content with playing it safe. Whether it be the more traditional metal approach of “Rain On You”, the heavy bass driven “Rock N’ Roll Me” or the Guns N’ Roses inspired ballad “Not For Me”, King Lizard keep things fresh while staying true to their sleaze rock roots. Throw in the anthem “Kan’t Kill Rock N’ Roll” and the closing party launching “Late Nite Dynamite” and you have the recipe for success.
With screams that rival anything Axl Rose has ever created and riffs that would make Zakk Wylde jealous, King Lizard has successfully recreated the sound of decadence. Not to mention the band screams ‘hey’ at least 40 times (I eventually lost count), but not once do the shouts sound out of place.
I better stop playing Viva La Decadence or I’ll be fitted with hearing aids in no time as I’ve been blasting this one since the day it arrived. Without an ounce of filler King Lizard looks to single-handedly revitalize the London rock scene — and judging by their debut release they are more than capable of that task. Viva la decadence, viva King Lizard and viva the return of sleaze!
www.kinglizard.co.uk – www.myspace.com/kinglizardmusic
Reviewed by Skid for Sleaze Roxx, December 2010
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