The best way to describe Shannon's "Angel in Disguise" is simply to say "80s rock" and move it along. Because that is essential what it is. A parade of every metal band that could be considered to have "hair" somewhere along its descriptive title from the me-decade, and just smashed up into one CD. A very good cd, but one that is derivative of so many bands that the damning word no longer really becomes damning anymore but just a vague description. Because so many bands are smushed up through this blender and emblazoned with the Shannon label that just taking a few out to task is just lazy. There are alot of 80s bands peering through the eyes of Shannon and just to name some - there is older "classic" 80s outfits paid homage here such as Firehouse, AC/DC, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Bonfire, Bon Jovi, Journey, Poison, Dokken, Treat, Def Leppard - and melodic bands from the 90s too and you could pin those as mostly Jaded Heart, Pink Cream 69, Gotthard and well... quite a few others.

Their EP "World of Desire" gained quite a bit of thumbs-up buzz so its no surprise that a full length disc was pushed out the door, and it retains the high quality (and the songs) from that tease taste of an EP. Nevermind, the full album that was their shining debut back in 2003. Those that love melodic rock in its various forms and inflections will be pleased to re-visit this "World of Desire" (with added content of course). Olivier screams and screeches with appropriate levels of high pitched, sweaty passion. He sounds like a French Michael Vescera/Klaus Miene combo. The guitars are as hungry as should be, and indulge in several solos of 6-string decadence. Harmony vocals are in effect, al'a gang banging vocal orgies 80s style. You know when it seems like a whole crowd of people have been gathered together to bleat along? Yep... And there are keyboards, although not nearly as many as a softie "AOR" name like "Shannon" would suggest, whether it is excused off hand as being named after an Irish river or a goddess or whatever, it still screams "AOR lite". While the cover is positively power metal and looks like one of a dozen different fantasy novels from back in the day. The production is neither awe inspiring or bad, just middling good - like most 80s records sound these days.

And the songs, well they are pretty good as well. They aren't breaking any new ground here, but covering tracks in a tingly kind of deja vu-like state is still nice, especially when there's no modern-ness looking to leak out. "Long Gone" has thick bass and melodic vocals, it's transformed into something rather Dokken-like. "Do You Know" is popping with screams and a PC69 flipside flavor. "Hungry For Love" is well, hungry, and focused on vocals and a catchy guitar riff. "No Better Times" is muscle flexing and has that bluesy rock punch kind of like a happy Cinderella or a joyful Ratt. Ah another band not mentioned...

"No More Lies" has thick, beefy guitars and a super catchy chorus, very Fair Warning-esque in that "GO" (or "GQ" if you prefer) manner. "Love in Your Eyes" and "Coming Back" are both rockers that sling heavier guitars along with the rockier tempo. Both are catchy radio happy ear candy, and both are completely forgettable. "Do You Feel My Love" is a throbbing nod to the Dokken "Back for the Attack" school of songwriting. It has those hushed-dramatic vocals and swirling keyboards, nicely done and they hit all the needed highs and lows here, attention given to little flourishes to make the song 'pop'. "Angel" needed more like this.

And there's Krokus and Van Halen here too.. you just have to keep an ear out for it. "Winter Nights" and the "Road of Desire" song both have kick and punch, with some questionable gong sounds on "Road" and "Nights" blazing away the last rays of daylight with some harder guitars. They liven up the album, which truthfully becomes overly bogged down in it's purpose. The achieving goal here is to emulate, to unsettling perfection, 80s rock, and sometimes that becomes more important overall than delivering a compelling song. Which is why "On and On" seems fairly descriptive of itself. The song seems to go to just such lengths, neverending - and what not, simply because it nails all the 80s requirements but lacks the soul.

The real heart of the matter is stripped away at times, leaving this lifeless shell that goes through the motions of being a Firehouse/Def Leppard/Dokken/Ratt-y combo and chuck some Kingdom Come in there for effect. But its never "bad" and never "excellent" and thus just remains content to just "be". A pleasant diversion, an ideal background soundtrack for a drive down the highway or through the country. Shannon has made the melodic rock 'hair' equivalent of elevator music. Fluffy, fleeting and utterfly forgettable, yet enjoyable all the same.

It's melodic rock confection, striving for too much perfection - ballads, harder songs, midtempo stuff, puff n fluff - if you dreamed it, it's here. "Angel of Desire" delivers the similarities in spades and thus will likely sell a boatload and then some (if there is justice in the world). Shannon is not original, but prides themselves on meticulous emulation, and those waves of deja vu will be enough to rope in enough music fans that are hungry for melodic rock. It's just a shame that they have not managed to pick up their own identity on the way. That is the vital component they need to be remembered and instead, will likely fade to the backs of record collections with just a tinge of fondness to be recalled by.

Written by Alanna
Monday, May 12, 2008
Show all reviews by Alanna

Ratings

Alanna: 6.5/10

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