Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
December 2024
- After Lapse: Pathways
- Illusion Force: Halfana
- Powell-Payne: Voilá
November 2024
- Sunstorm: Restless Fight
- Storace: Crossfire
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Mean Streak: Trial By Fire
Mean Streak: Trial By Fire
Melodic/Heavy/Power Metal
4.5/5.0
Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Black Lodge Records
by Craig Hartranft, 05.30.2013
Mean Streak's third album, Trial By Fire began with the noblest intentions and best inspirations. The band wanted to create an epic heavy metal album in the classic tradition inspired by their favorite bands and producers, like Mutt Lange and Bob Rock. While 'epic' must be left to the ears of the listener, Mean Streak has probably produced their best album to date.
Mean Streak: tough enough.
Much of the album's success comes from how the band chose to record it. The band passed on the modernity of Pro Tools, used natural drums with without any sample replacements or artificial reverbs, and bumped up the breadth and depth of the vocal arrangements. Of course, Mean Streak writes songs with a good melody and rock groove to move the heaviness, and then loads them with twin guitar leads.
Of all these things, perhaps the most noticeable are strong vocal arrangements, notable in the backing vocals. The Songs Shine (watch video below), Hangman's Daughter, and Let Love Rain are particularly impressive. The latter song sounds like a Mutt Lange produced Def Leppard song, only heavier (which is probably what the band was seeking). Otherwise, you have some terrific melodic heavy metal across the album. There's speedier numbers in Trial By Fire and the anthem We Are One. Then there's the toe-tapping, fist pumping, groove of Shine On, Thunderbolt, and Bad Blood. Easily some of the best music for a road trip. The weak spot may be Cast Away, the only ballad here and a droll one at that. Then you have Saints Are Falling which never really gets going until the guitar solo in the end. Much of the same could be said for Tunnel Vision, which seems more an exercise in heaviness than anything else. Nevertheless, when considered in the context of the whole, neither song diminishes the quality of the album. In the end, with Trial By Fire, Mean Streak accomplished their goal of creating a proper melodic heavy metal album in the best tradition. Easily recommended.
Mean Streak - Shine On (Official Video)
Tweet
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
In Short
Trial By Fire, Mean Streak accomplished their goal of creating a proper melodic heavy metal album in the best tradition. Easily recommended.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
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 ]