Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Unholy metal mayhem bangers! I'm so glad I was convinced to give this album a spin. Audrey Horne is ironically, a breath of fresh air in the stagnant retro genre. Changing from their prior alt/grunge sound was the kick in the ass this band needed. Black metallers doing rock better than some current US bands is damn impressive. Once these guys removed the corpse paint from their faces and tabled the anger and hate, Audrey Horne was awakened. Guess those guys do have a soul after all and didn't make a pact with ol' Lucifer.

From the opener, "Redemption Blues" to the final track "The King is Dead", this album delivers quality hard/classic rock tunes that will undoubtedly get stuck in the deepest recesses of your brain with classic rock executed to near perfection. The vocals delivered in Youngblood are reminiscent of Jeff Lynne of ELO with a bit of Steven Tyler singing thrown in for good measure. Delivering the vocals with emotion and a good cadence, you'll find yourself singing along in no time at all. The guitars are a modern take on the classic sound of KISS and Rainbow with some Thin Lizzy-style melodic twin-lead, lessening the fuzzy, cloudy sound that most classic rock bands tend to lean towards. But that doesn't mean that the solos or riffs lack some punch. You'll be pumping your fist to the riffage throughout Youngblood.

This album summed up in one word: banger! Each song on this album could be released as a single and together they make a tremendous record. Tracks "Redemption Blues", "Youngblood" and "Cards with the Devil" are standout tracks for me and will give you a great idea of what you are in store for. To borrow the lyrics from the title track "Youngblood, full of piss and vinegar"--a must have for any metalhead or hard rock fan on the planet. This needs to find a home in your musical library ASAP.
Recommended for fans of: Classic rock, KISS, Thin Lizzy