Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Warrant Rockaholic Company: Frontiers Release: 2011 Genre: Hard Rock Reviewer: EC

Feel good rock and roll vibe

Hard to belive that Warrant have pretty much stayed intact their whole career. Dixon, Turner, Allen and Sweet are the band's mainstays since 1988. Obviously anyone who has turned on VH1 knows that Jani Lane has hit the street in a bad way but kudos to Warrant for striving on. After a ten year hiatus the band struck again on 2006 offering "Born Again". The band teamed with Jamie St. James of Black 'N Blue/Keel and recorded a fairly decent comeback. The band disappeared again and return to the studio with this new album called "Rockaholic".

"Rockaholic" was picked up by Europe's premier hard rock label Frontiers. The label has made big splashes of late with releases from Black 'N Blue, Whitesnake and Winger. The band hired Keith Olsen (Ozzy, Scorpions) to produce with mixing by Pat Regan (KISS). It's really hard to pinpoint the sound as Warrant because this is really a timeless hard rock release. You can hear a few strokes of old classic Warrant but they are few and far between. Instead this new album really showcases a different kind of shine and a feel good rock and roll vibe that could fit the 70s, 80s or...yikes...even the 90s mentality.

I'm loving the new voice of Warrant in Robert Mason (Lynch Mob). This guy has rocked tall along side George Lynch and most recently a great act called Big Cock (bold). Mason's style fits perfectly and may even sound like a better collaboration than St. James/Warrant from five years ago. The vibe is "party on" but it is done classy and stylish. There is plenty of short blues riffs throughout songs like "Candy Man" and "Sex Ain't Love" (bordering on Buckcherry) but still heavier in spots with enjoyable numbers like "Show Must Go On". It wouldn't be a hair metal release without the power ballad, the best on record being a great slice called "Home".

Overall I'm thrilled to have a new Warrant release and I believe the marriages made here are successful. Mason is a great fit and the band is backed by a label that knows the importance of marketing hard rock in 2011. The "down boys" are definitely back up.