Year : 2018
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 310 mb
Bio:
Big Guns are UK's answer to the legendary hard rockers Danger Danger, a classic AOR/melodic rock band that exemplifies everything that is great about these genres. Big Guns is an AOR powerhouse and has been on the wantlist of collectors for a long time - and is why their albums fetch such high prices on auction sites. The band has also been compared to Baton Rouge, Dokken (at times), Little Angels, Lion, Bronz and Praying Mantis.When grunge hit the United States, the music many of us loved didn't necessarily die. In many cases it just moved east. Far East. As in Japan. By all accounts, the depressing, downtuned, fuzzy tones of grunge did absolutely nothing in the hair loving, melodic metal haven of Japan, and so a lot of bands saw this area as a chance to keep doing what they enjoyed and making the music they loved. Big Guns was signed to EMI subsidiary Zero Records (Japan) in 1994 and released an album called "On Dangerous Ground", a piece of melodic hard rock history for those fans familiar with the band's rise. Later in 2007, the band released a follow-up EP, called "Stick Em’ Up".FnA Records has released the two highly sought after albums on one disc – releasing all 16 tunes that Big Guns has recorded – 10 tracks from "On Dangerous Ground" and 6 tracks from "Stick Em’ Up".The band was formed in February 1994 by drummer Robin Ward and guitarist Wayne Lawson, after the demise of Mai Rouge. The band was then joined by vocalist Ian Taylor (Discovery), guitarist Neil Brocklebank (Artisan) and bassist John Ward (Castle Crew, Jokers Wild) while Phil O'Dea would replace Brocklebank after the first album. When listening to this album, the first thing that really hits, is just how much the lead singer Ian Taylor sounds like Kal Swan from Lion. I don't mean they sound a little alike, they sound like vocal twins for the most part. Taylor, just like Swan, sports a smooth, powerful, lower-tenor range that he never lets drifting into falsetto or forced scream territory, which is definitely a good thing, as it gives these melodic rockers a sound that is distinct among all of the clone bands that really put a bullet in the heart of the hair metal scene. Big Guns also knows how to utilize their twin guitar attack, unlike so many bands that don't really seem to do anything with two (or more) guitars on records, even if they use them to powerful effect live. O'Dea and Lawson really know how to milk a smooth, soulful sound out of their instruments. This album is full of melodic solos that don't rely on whammy bars and fret tapping to impress, these guys can flat out play. Early reviews were good and Big Guns were soon on the road throughout the UK headlining shows as well as supporting the likes of Magnum, Ted Poley’s Bone Machine, Brian Robertson, Thunder and The Choirboys.
Album:
FnA Records is at it again as the label is re-releasing two hard to find albums; "On Dangerous Ground + Stick Em’ Up", from UK melodic rockers BIG GUNS on one 16-track CD.Not to be confused with several bands of the same name, formed in the '90s this BIG GUNS were the British answer to Danger Danger – a classic AOR / Melodic Hard Rock band that exemplifies everything that is great about these genres.Big Guns formed in February 1994, by drummer Robin Ward and guitarist Wayne Lawson after the demise of Mai Rouge. The duo was then joined by vocalist Ian Taylor (ex Discovery), guitarist Neil Brocklebank (ex Artisan) and bassist John Ward (ex Castle Crew, Jokers Wild) – Phil O’Dea would replace Brocklebank after the first album.When grunge hit the United States, the music many of us loved didn’t necessarily die… in many cases it just moved east. Far East. As in Japan.By all accounts, the depressing, down-tuned, fuzzy tones of grunge did absolutely nothing in the hair-loving, melodic metal haven of Japan, and so a lot of bands saw this area as a chance to keep doing what they enjoyed and making the music they loved.Big Guns was signed to EMI-subsidiary, Zero Records (Japan) in 1994, and released an album called 'On Dangerous Ground'.Later in 2007, the band released a follow up EP called 'Stick Em’ Up'.When listening to 'On Dangerous Ground', the first thing that really hits me is just how much the lead singer, Ian Taylor, sounds like Kal Swan from LION. I don’t mean they sound a little alike… they sound like vocal twins for the most part.Taylor, just like Swan, sports a smooth, powerful, lower-tenor range that he never lets drift into falsetto or forced scream territory, which is definitely a good thing, as it gives these melodic rockers a sound that is distinct among all of the clone bands that really put a bullet in heart of the hair metal scene.Big Guns also knows how to utilize their twin guitar attack, unlike so many bands that don’t really seem to do anything with two (or more) guitars on records, even if they use them to powerful effect live. Lawson & Brocklebank really know how to milk a smooth, soulful sound out of their instruments.This album is full of melodic solos that don’t rely on whammy bars and fret tapping to impress; these guys can flat out play.Big Guns' albums were always hard to find; "On Dangerous Ground" only was released in Japan (average eBay price $132.35), while "Stick Em" was released by a small Australian label. Both are now together on one CD, with new artwork and available at a decent price.Big Guns indeed have musical references to Danger Danger, Lion, 1985's Bronz, Little Angels, Heaven's Edge... American sound & style from the second half of the '80s / early '90s but with a distinctive British AOR touch.
Line Up:
Ian Taylor (vocals)
Wayne Lawson (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals)
Neil Brocklebank (guitar, backing vocals)
John Ward (bass, backing vocals)
Robin Ward (drums, backing vocals)
Phil O'Dea (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 11-16)
Tracklist:
01. Living It Up
02. Live A Dream
03. Live and Learn
04. Mistreated
05. Love Gets In The Way
06. Heart and Soul
07. Picking Up The Pieces
08. Let's Get Crazy
09. City Lights
10. Slipping Away
11. Intelligent and Blind
12. Women
13. A Little Bit of Love
14. Money Talks
15. Don't Push
16. One More River
Tracks 1-10 taken from "On Dangerous Ground" (1994)
Tracks 11-16 taken from "Stick Em' Up" (2007)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
