In 2002 legendary
Hanoi Rocks fluttered the dovecotes announcing their comeback followed by the brilliant album "12 shots on the Rocks". The album was consistent, moving
Hanoi Rocks in a more straight Hard Rock direction with an up-dated and very powerful sound.
The band returns in 2005 with "Another Hostile Takeover". Ironically "Another Hostile Takeover" sounds like the natural transition album tying the "new"
Hanoi Rocks to their last album before breaking up. The main reason "Another Hostile Takeover" sounds like the missing link is because
Hanoi Rocks has regained their will to experiment with different styles on the album.
"Another Hostile Takeover" draws parallels back to
Hanoi Rocks' 80s area. The middle part of
Hurt has the classic
Hanoi Rocks guitar sound that got fully developed on the Bob Ezrin produced "Two Steps from the Move".
Devil in You has a riff alike
Million Miles Away - both in emotion and the way Andy McCoy extend the tones. The guitar is loud and clear but permeated by the vintage sound. The most obvious reference is
Better High, which incorporates the first two lines from
Until I get You.
The Muddy twins McCoy and Monroe have supplied the album with some clever lyrics.
Hurt puts a smile on your face with its ironic lyrics. The best lyrics are found on the closing power pop ballad
Center of my Universe. Monroe probably wrote the lyrics with the loss of Jude Wilder in mind. The vocals are very emotional and just like other emotional ballads,
Million Miles Away for example, Monroe finds the Saxophone and blasts out a great solo piece. The lyrics for
Better High are cleverly constructed as two-edged being both an anti-drug and love song.
Monroe's life's companion and songwriting partner Jude Wilder has co-written
No Compromise, No Regrets, which probably was aimed for a Monroe solo release. The song definitely builds up after a slow verse. However, the first chorus kick-starts the song and makes this a gem on "Another Hostile Takeover".
"Another Hostile Takeover" grows on you. It's like buying a flower - at first beautiful, but later it blooms and you experience the full potential and enjoyment. The last part of the album is packed with highlights.
Eternal Optimist sees
Hanoi Rocks trying to intersperse quite a few things into their songs. A very short flamengo guitar piece from McCoy leads to a sparkling signature riff in the vein of
A Day Late, A Dollar Short from "12 shots on the Rocks". Other songs following the tradition from the last album is the album opener
Back In Yer Face, which is a powerful opener oozing in-your face attitude.
The guitar sound on the album is very characteristic leaving traces of vintage
Hanoi Rocks. The production is a bit polished yet powerful. A song like
You Make The Earth Move wraps up all these elements in a perfectly written song.
Hanoi Rocks even covers a
Thin Lizzy tune where they adapt to the classic
Thin Lizzy sound with twin guitars and Monroe doing his best Phil Lynott impression.
Just like the older
Hanoi Rocks records not everything succeeds when you make diversified records.
Hanoi Rocks has worked with DJ Alimo and DJ Control. Together they wrote the terrible
Reggae Rocker - the
hybrid of reggae beats, sound effects and rock doesn't work at all. The song falls completely out of order. The collaboration did a better job on the mid-tempo
The Devil In You, but still its one of the only below average songs along with the hard pumping
Talk to the Hand and the silly
Love.
"Another Hostile Takeover" is different from the consistent Hard Rock on "12 Shots on the Rock" and even though yours truly was quite disappointed at first, this album is a growing masterpiece. With the exception of the before mentioned songs - all songs are so well structured, successful and powerful that they over-shine the few fruitless songs
If you were among those who saluted the direction
Hanoi Rocks took on "12 Shots on the Rocks" be aware that this album is a bit different. It's a hybrid of old and new, but definitely considers the vintage
Hanoi Rocks fans.
Hanoi Rocks tries a few things on the album but always keep their special vibe in the songs and that's the reason why this album succeeds. After the first few listens "Another Hostile Takeover" seems a bit confusing and messy caused by the different styles compared to the straight forward "12 shots on the Rocks". However, once this album gets under your skin you experience a potential that you wouldn't have imagined after the first listens. This album certainly grows on you and is another well crafted
Hanoi Rocks album that just underlines why they continue to fill their fan base with enthusiasm.
Written by
Michael Friday, May 6, 2005
Show all reviews by MichaelRatingsMichael: 7.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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