COLLATERAL – S/T – ALBUM REVIEW

COLLATERAL have gone from strength to strength with slots at Camden Rock, Ramblin Man Fair and the Jon Bon Jovi Cruise around the Med which I’m sure didn’t do the bands profile any harm, and line them up for future stardom.

What you get with COLLATERAL is a sound that reminds me of a great mix of Melodic Rock masters TYKETTO and GIANT and New Jersey era Rock Giants, BON JOVI.

Opening tune, and my personal favorite from the album is the immense ‘Mr Big Shot’, which could have featured on MTV Headbangers Ball back in the day, and for me is a future classic, which its soaring vocals from the enigmatic, and best dressed frontman in rock, Angelo Tristan.

The brilliant ‘Promiseland’ featuring some immense guitar work by ‘Todd Winger’ who sounds like the devil spawn of Paul Gilbert and Dan Huff and could have featured on that classic TYKETTO debut release. The southern melodic rock vibe of ‘Merry Go Round’ is outstanding, and takes me back to my youth, with Snakeskin Cowboy Boots and tassled jackets worn by the masses.

‘In It For Love’ is another standout track which vocalist Angelo Tristan absolutely smashes, with its Danny Vaughn influenced vocals and memorable hooks, before we are treated to the amazing ‘Lullaby’ featuring the excellent rhythm section of Ben Atkinson on Drums and Jack Bentley-Smith on bass.

PLANET ROCK favorite ‘ Midnight Queen’ is a huge tune, and is a hybrid of TANGIER, 38 SPECIAL and Slippery era BON JOVI, and will go down a treat on the dancefloor at any of the wonderful Melodic Rock Nights across the UK. ‘Get Back To You ‘ with its heartfelt lyrics and soulfull vocals from Angelo Tristan blends so well with amazing shredding of Todd Winger.

‘Wont Stop Me Dreaming’ could have featured on the FM classic – ‘Tough It Out’ and is a real commercially focused tune, that leads us to the final track of this wonderful album, ‘About This Boy’ which again is another southern melodic rock gem of a tune.

COLLATERAL have delivered an amazing Melodic Rock Monster of an album and i have a feeling 2020 is going to catapult the band onto the next level with a support slot on a world tour with one of the big boys on the cards. This is an essential purchase and im sure will feature in many peoples top 5 albums for 2020. Well done guys on this truly stunning release !!!!!

ALBUM TRACKLISTING

1. MR BIG SHOT
2. PROMISELAND
3. MERRY GO ROUND
4. IN IT FOR LOVE
5. LULLABY
6. MIDNIGHT QUEEN
7. GET BACK TO YOU
8. WON’T STOP ME DREAMING
9. ABOUT THIS BOY

PRODUCTION CREDITS
PRODUCED BY SEAN M. KENNY
RECORDED AT TEN21 STUDIOS, MAIDSTONE, KENT
ENGINEERED AND MIXED BY SEAN M. KENNY
MASTERED BY ROBIN SCHMIDT AT 24-96 MASTERING