CAROLINE BLUE ‘SLAVE TO THE HOURGLASS’ (WWJ PRODUCTIONS)

Classic 80s US Melodic Hardrock reminding a lot of 80s KISS, KEEL and some DANGER DANGER. Especially the PAUL STANLEYish vocals of singer (and guitarist) Wayne W. Johnson are making them sound a lot like 80s KISS. 5 songs are on the CD of this New York based band and the reason why it sounds that 80s orientated is the fact that the songs were written some 15 years ago! Nevertheless, this is cool in your face 80s Melodic Hardrock with strong vocals, especially on uptempo songs like “Slave to the hourglass” and “The queen of pleasure” (hell yeah! Best song with flashy guitarwork and a strong catchy sound a la LOUD AND CLEAR’s debut). A definite must-have for fans of 80s Hair Metal! More info at: carolineblue.com and e-mail at: carolineblue13@yahoo.com 

(Points: 8.1 out of 10)
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This release is really hot. Caroline Blue released their debut demo CD the first week of December. The title of this CD is "Slave to the Hourglass" and they have included five songs. The band comes from United States and musically they walks in the melodic rock paths with some elements from Glam rock too. Their songs are really good for the American listeners and their rock is good enough for the other side of ocean; i can say that the second track from this demo was my favorite one. As this is their debut release i can say that they had done their best but always it can be better and better. For sure they have the abilities to make something really interesting and remarkable, the thing is to continue their hard work and i hope they will have some results in the near future. I will wait for their next step. Until then.....
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Everytime I review an album on these sites every reader can be sure that it is a TRUE one. That's justmy favourite music. So it is no wonder that I like this album (okay, more a longer EP) as well. This time it is a classic Hardrock/Metal instead of a Power Metal release. These guys ROCK and you could call their musical style Partymetal (Hairmetal) indeed. This album relaxes your limbs, doesn't bother you and makes you sing together with the boys. All five tracks (the hidden tracks is totally unimportant) are kind of a combination of elder heroes just like Motley Crue, Ratt, a little bit of Priest and a singer who definitely seems to spend his spare time listening to the complete programm of Kiss. Not the highest peak of Metal for sure but nevertheless worth listening. The instrumental transposition is well done as well. Well known guitar sounds of my favourite era give a smooth massage to my eardrums and are kind of a relief for my ageing bones. A visit of the band's homepage is recommended. www.carolineblue.com 

RonJacMetal 

Translation: Peter Schulien
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Caroline Blue is a three piece band from upstate New York that really knows how to rock. After listening to this EP a few times, I thought to myself that these guys have captured the spirit of Kiss, Mötley Crüe, and even a bit of Motörhead very well. Afterwards, I ventured onto the band's website, and found that they compared themselves to Kiss, Mötley Crüe, and Judas Priest. There have been numerous times in the past where I've disagreed with a band's description of their sound, but the guy of Caroline Blue know exactly what they're doing, and are very good at it. 

These five tracks are no frill, heavy rock anthems that melt the attitude of early Mötley Crüe with the party / arena rock catchiness and fun of Kiss. Some of the heavy riffing (such as can be found in The Queen of Pleasure) and blazing solos remind me of Motörhead as well. Musically speaking, Caroline Blue delivers a solid wall that is sure to get your neck moving. The riffs have a raw, in your face edge that add a lot of character to the band's sound. Ensuring that the impact of the music is not lost, the bass guitar has a bold presence that provides a full and complete sound. Sonically speaking, this CD is very polished and professional sounding for a self financed release. Each instrument is mixed at the proper level, and the sound is clear, without losing it's hard edge. Vocalist Wayne Johnson sounds very similar to Paul Stanley, but certainly is not trying to sound like a clone. Obviously, his delivery is a perfect fit for this style of classic heavy rock music. The man does not fail to deliver as he sounds very motivated and into his music, judging from these 5 songs. Of the 5 songs featured on this EP, I found each one to have lasting value and provide me with a nice kick in the rear to get my blood moving. If the band can come up with an entire album of this quality, they mold a nice career for themselves. 

Fans of 80's heavy rock with an attitude should stop by Caroline Blue's website (link at the top of the review) and learn more about this band. As the band continues to improve and (hopefully) secures a record contract (and recording budget), I envision one hell of a debut album coming from Caroline Blue.

Killing Songs : Slave to the Hourglass, Hard Life, The Queen of Pleasure 

Mike 76 / 100
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