Welcome to the LOUDEST DOT COM ON THE PLANET!
KNAC.COM News Reviews and More Watch The Latest Videos Buy KNAC T-shirts and More


The Dragons Sin Salvation

By Frank Meyer, Contributing Editor
Tuesday, September 16, 2003 @ 9:25 AM


(Gearhead Records)

- advertisement -
San Diego-based rawk ‘n’ rollers the Dragons have been cranking out quality music for over a decade now and seem to get better with every album. Tight as a gnat’s ass and as drunk and reckless as Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers in their prime, this band shakes, rattles and rolls like it’s 1978 and every night is a gig at CBGB. Sin Salvation is no exception to this rule. As always, the boys offer up a jagged, rusty silver platter of good ol’ fashion rock ‘n’ roll that should please fans of Hanoi Rock to the Replacements, from Buck Cherry to Chuck Berry.

The title-track, “Money Or Your Life” and “Dirty Bomb” are the kinda tunes that just leap right out of your stereo and hold a knife to your throat, all piss and vinegar and attitude. “Claire” and “Kiss Me (Cause Life’s Obscure)” find the band throwing some teeny-bop hooks into their gutter-rock pot. “Ignition LZ” is an absolutely decimating piece of work, a blitzkrieg of firebrand riffs, smoulderin’ leads and headbangin’ power. One of their best tunes ever.

As with their live sets, the band closes with a coupla covers, this time Thunders’ “Sad Vacation” and Hanoi Rocks’ epic “Tragedy.” Both get the Dragons sweaty meat ‘n’ potatoes workout, and both end sounding like singer/guitarist Mario Escovedo wrote ‘em!

Escovedo could be Izzy Stadlin’s Mexican half-brother, a tough street hood who wears his heart on his sleeve, carries a switchblade and has a low-slung six-string axe to grind. Backed by drummer Jarrod Lucas’s steady beat and Steve Rodriguez’s heartthrob mob bass hump, Escovedo carries the Keith Richards/Ronnie Wood torch high and proud, and maybe one of the last true-grit rock ‘n’ roll songwriters on the planet. But it’s Ken Horne who keeps things dangerous. Kenny is the secret weapon of the group, the shedding monster guitarist that keeps the snobs and skeptics quiet by delivering dizzying leads that defy all punk logic. Like Andy McCoy, Joe Perry and Ross The Boss rolled up into one, Kenny will tear the ribs right outta yer chest if you don’t watch out.

They got the ‘tude, they got the chops, they got the hooks and they look cool. What more do want? You want blood? They got that too -- it’s tainted with whiskey and runs through their veins like wine. Cheers.

* * * *


Back to Top

 

 

 Recent Reviews
RHAPSODY OF FIRE Challenge The Wind
THE AMITY AFFLICTION, CURRENTS, DYING WISH, MUGSHOT In Boston, MA With Photos!
BLUE OYSTER CULT Ghost Stories
BLACK VEIL BRIDES In Houston, TX With Photos!
GATECREEPER Dark Superstition
AMON AMARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBITUARY, FROZEN SOUL In Portland, OR With Photos!
ULI JON ROTH In Ottawa, Canada
RAVEN, VICIOUS RUMORS, LUTHARO In Ottawa, Canada
BLIND GUARDIAN, NIGHT DEMON In Worcester, MA With Photos!
FIREWIND, EDGE OF PARADISE, IMMORTAL GUARDIAN In Houston, TX With Photos!
KERRY KING From Hell I Rise
DARKTHRONE It Beckons Us All
KAMELOT, HAMMERFALL, AD INFINITUM In Fort Worth, TX With Photos!
ASKING ALEXANDRIA, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE, NERV In Salt Lake City, UT
ARTILLERY, VAPOR, POTENTIAL THREAT, INFRARED In Ottawa, Canada
BABYLON A.D. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
ILLUSORY The Ivory Tower Reissue
GHOSTKID Hollywood Suicide
DAATH The Deceivers
ACCEPT Humanoid
BRUCE DICKINSON In Santa Ana, CA With Photos!
GREAT WHITE, SLAUGHTER, QUIET RIOT In Houston, TX With Photos!
STATIC-X, SEVENDUST, LINES OF LOYALTY In Salt Lake City, UT With Photos!
JUDAS PRIEST, SABATON In Youngstown, OH With Photos!
ROCK & BREWS Ridgefield, WA Grand Opening With Photos!
WIND ROSE, XANDRIA, LYCANTHRO In Ottawa, Canada
THE ROCK ORCHESTRA By Candlelight In Myrtle Beach, SC With Photos!
DEICIDE Banished By Sin
2024 MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE Recap With Photos!
LITA FORD In West Hollywood, CA With Photos!



HOME | MAGAZINE | VIDS | STORE | HELP/POLICIES

©2024 KNAC.COM. All Rights Reserved.    Link to us    Advertise with us    Privacy policy
 Latest News