Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Ozone: Self Defence
Ozone Self Defence CD Album Review

Ozone: Self Defence

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

Website (Label)
Escape Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 09.09.2015

With the first press release, lovers of AOR melodic rock began drooling over the forthcoming Ozone album, Self Defence, and with good reason. The album features two vocal legend of the genre from the UK/European theater, Chris Ousey and Steve Overland. No introduction necessary, really. If that's not enough you have some other giants in the field with Mike Slamer and Tommy Denander doing guitars, bass, keys, and helping with songwriting. Slamer also produces. With all this said and done, might as well wrap up the package and put a pretty bow on it.

Essentially, for all you AOR melodic rockers, your slobbering was worth it. This album rocks. While there have been more than a few great AOR albums this year, Self Defence is another contender. First, as you would expect considering the talent, the songs are well-written and arranged. Melody, harmony, and groove are abundant throughout. That and the simple catch accessibility in compositional hooks and lyrical refrains. Ousey, who handles the lead vocals, isn't my first, go-to, AOR vocalist, but paired with Overland (and like six other dudes) the vocal arrangements and harmonies on this album are monstrous, an obvious focal point of the entire album.

After this, who doesn't want to listen to Tommy Denander play guitar. I don't know how many leads either Slamer or Denander do, but the guitar thrills also abundant, truly self-evident.

When I mentioned that the album rocks, many of the songs are hard rock heavy and quick paced, the groove driving them along. Good examples: Evolve, Self Defence, Practice What You Preach, and Visionary Man. There's a bit of ballad in So Blind. It's got a big soaring chorus and a ripping solo in the second half. There is some curious redundancy, in the best sense, amongst several songs. Many songs begin with solo guitar often sounding similar, yet different, like Destiny, Evolve, Self Defence, and Smile Before You Lie, and Practice What You Preach. Otherwise, Ozone and Self Defence, featuring vocalists Chris Ousey and Steve Overland, is a rather large powerhouse of classic AOR melodic hard rock, bound to please fans of the same everywhere. Easily recommended.

CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

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

Ozone and Self Defence, featuring vocalists Chris Ousey and Steve Overland, is a rather large powerhouse of classic AOR melodic hard rock, bound to please fans of the same everywhere. Easily recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]