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Crashdiet: The Savage Playground

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Records
by Craig Hartranft,  01.23.2013

One of the best bands to come from the new wave of sleaze in Scandinavia at the turn of the century is Sweden's Crashdiet. Nearly three years have passed since their last album, the very good Generation Wild. But the boys have been busy writing a bunch of new songs: The Savage Playground boasts 13 songs in an hour of time.

Crashdiet:: staying away from open flames.

While I dig the most bang for my buck at anytime, this may be a case of too much, Crashdiet spreading themselves a bit to thin. This is likely because the last two songs Excited and the lengthy Garden of Babylon, could have easily been dropped as filler. Nevertheless, while these are interesting, there's many better songs here.

Crashdiet has always been good at making epic rock songs and you get this with Change the World, Lickin' Dog, and the first single Cocaine Cowboys (Note the dobro(?) at the start and the no small amount of blues feel). They can also get their punk with songs like Anarchy. Then there's pure melodic rock radio friendly groove of Circus. Essentially Crashdiet has always been about that late Eighties Hollywood glam/sleaze sound. It abounds across the album, but you can hear it here on Drinkin' Without You and Snakes in Paradise. The latter could have been a Guns N Roses song.

While there's lots to consume, maybe too much for some, Crashdiet's The Savage Playground finds the band in fine form (thanks to a stable line up), and delivering solid sleaze side melodic hard rock.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

While there's lots to consume, Crashdiet's The Savage Playground finds the band in fine form (thanks to a stable line up), and delivering solid sleaze side melodic hard rock.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]