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Kickin' Valentina: The Revenge Of Rock

(Melodic) Hard and Heavy Rock

4.0/5.0

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Mighty Music/Target Group
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 17.02.2021 | Released: 19.02.2021

Formed in 2013, Atlanta based Kickin' Valentina is an American rock band that actually plays rock. Classic American hard and heavy melodic rock, the likes of which made bands like Guns N Roses famous. In eight years the band has had a whirlwind of success, largely in Europe and Japan, with two studio albums, a few EPs, top chart appearances, and stage performances with kindred spirits such as Buckcherry, Nitrogods, Skid Row, Sebastian Bach, Faster Pussycat, LA Guns, and many more. Now Kickin' Valentina returns with their third long-player, The Revenge Of Rock.

Kickin' Valentina

It bears repeating, Kickin' Valentina (K'A) plays authentic classic heavy rock, with influences from late Eighties Sunset Strip hair metal, maybe even some post-grunge d-tuning. More certainly, K'A songs offer strong riff harmony, song melody tuned to vocal harmony, blazing solos, catchy refrains and, perhaps above all, essential rock rhythm and groove involving all players.

You'll hear all these things at the start with Freak Show, Somebody New, and my personal favorite, Rat Race, a catchy fast rocker with some punk undercurrents. You'll find more riff-roaring, fast and heavy rock with End Of The Road, Strange, and the title track, wherein I begin to hear a little Motorhead. Alternatively, with Heart Tattoo, K'A offers listeners a ballad where the heaviness is momentarily subdued, the song melody is self-evident, and the vocals flow over the riffs, rhythm, and groove.

All said, for classic American melodic heavy rock, Kickin' Valentina's The Revenge Of Rock hit the nail on the head with a sledgehammer. Solid and entertaining stuff. Check out the War video below and support the band. Recommended.

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

For classic American melodic heavy rock, Kickin' Valentina's The Revenge Of Rock hit the nail on the head with a sledgehammer. Solid and entertaining stuff. Recommended.

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