Label: Century Media Records

Release Date: September 18, 2015

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by: Todd "Toddstar" Jolicoeur

The term supergroup gets thrown around these days, but most of the time, it is simply a bunch of guys getting together and jamming.  They have a great time, feel a bit of chemistry, and decide to see if there is any new music underneath the surface. This is my take on the new band Devil City Angels.  Each of the band members brings rock lineage with them, but collectively, these guys have just released a debut disc that is as different from their pasts as it is similar.  The disc opens with "Numb" and instantly the sound is bombastic and grabs your attention.  The chugging riffs and pounding rhythm section drive the track, while the lead vocals from Brandon Gibbs brings added energy.  "All My People" is similar to the opening track, with guitars, vocals, bass, and drums that create a wall of sound. The guitar solo from Tracii Guns at the bridge stands out on this song.  "I'm Living" has a heavier groove that is accentuated by the heavy bass line (supplied on the recordings by Eric Brittingham, but to be taken over by Rudy Sarzo live).  The chorus is catchy and fun, giving the disc another tempo-driven track.  "Goodbye Forever" is a great ballad that takes everything musically good about an 80's power ballad and brings it together with a full vocal track that creates a larger than life sound.  "All I Need" opens with fun drum work from Rikki Rockett and gets a cool 1970's feel good groove once the guitars and vocals kick in.  The song shows how diverse these guys are and how hungry they are to continue creating great music, regardless of the laurels they could rest on.

"Boneyard" is one of the coolest tunes on the disc (and my personal fav).  The guitars have a cool throw back sound, while the vocals bring a modern twist to the track.  The bass and drums swirl in the background driving the track.  The anthemic vocals (lead and background) add punch to the track.  "No Angels" features great guitar work paired up against killer drums.  The vocals are peppered across the musical accompaniment and gives the track a cool Cheap Trick meets Train sound (Gibbs has a canny vocal similarity to CT's Robin Zander and Train's Pat Monahan).  "Ride With Me" brings a pop quality and sensibility to the mix, with a rock track that doesn't take itself too seriously.  The different sounds these guys bring to the table and blend together pay homage to their abilities as songwriters and players.  "Back To The Drive" is a driving track that gives the guitars room to run along with the soaring vocals, while the drums and bass anchor the track, keeping it solid from top to bottom.  Disc closer "Bad Decisions" is another song that demonstrates how strong the vocals of Gibbs are, especially when paired up against Guns' rocking guitar work and Rockett's thunderous drum track.

Tracklisting: Numb - All My People - Boneyard - I'm Living - No Angels - Goodbye Forever - Ride With Me - All I Need - Back To The Drive - Bad Decisions

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