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TOKYO MOTOR FIST
Tokyo Motor Fist
Frontiers Music Srl - 2017

When you combine the vocal talents of Ted Poley from DANGER DANGER and the guitar chops of Steve Brown from TRIXTER, you'd understandably have a certain level of expectation of what their music would sound like. TOKYO MOTOR FIST, the band and the album, doesn't let you down in that regard.

It is a hook laden, vocal melody showcase for both guys to rock out on. With a rhythm section featuring drummer Chuck Burgi and bassist Greg Smith (both of whom spent time in RAINBOW among their many credits), TOKYO MOTOR FIST feels more like a full on band as opposed to a one off "project".

Steve Brown seems to be the guiding force behind the album given that he was involved in the songwriting and plays guitar, keys and percussion on the disc. He also served as producer, engineer and mixer so the album definitely has his fingerprints all over every aspect.

I have to say that even back when DANGER DANGER had a heyday, I never really listened to them all that closely. But on this album, I really enjoyed the way Ted Poley's vocals came out. Well, except for the opening track "Pickin' Up The Pieces" anyway. While I loved the riff that opens the song, the vocals struck me as being a bit too sterile or flat to my ear. While the song was otherwise pretty good, the thing with the vocal stuck with me.

Thankfully, that is something that is quickly dealt with because Track 2, "Love Me Insane", not only gets going with a faster paced tempo but the vocals have a dramatically different and livelier spark to them. This continues throughout the rest of the disc.

Given that this is a Frontiers Music release, it isn't a surprise to find that the album is indeed full of ear catching hooks and melodies, but it is a bit different here. Rather than each new hook or melody feeling as it was put in place like a science experiment, the music on Tokyo Motor Fist has a more authentic feel to it. I can't say that I was overly crazy about the "ballads" on this album. "Love" isn't necessarily a bad song but it just didn't fall into my own personal wheelhouse of enjoyment. "Don't Let Me Go" didn't work that well for me either.

When the band goes into full-on rocking mode though, it is an undeniably fun ride and where the album really shines. From "Black And Blue" to "You're My Revolution" and then from "Put Me To Shame" and "Done To Me" the band soars with fast paced run-throughs that both exhilarate and leave you breathless.

The closing track "Fallin' Apart" is pure adrenaline and stands as likely the best song on the disc.

I don't know whether this is just the first album from a bright new band on the horizon, or just another one of those put together musical projects that Frontiers is known/notorious for. However, I do know that I enjoyed this album a whole lot and for any fan of the melodic rock genre, Tokyo Motor Fist is an album that will keep you glued to your speakers from start to finish and leave you wanting a whole lot more.

4.3 Out Of 5.0

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