"Pedal to the Metal" CD by Blessed By A Broken Heart

by Oliver Kube (15.09.2008) Welcome to the time machine, folks - listening to the debut album of these Canadians, you sure enter the past again... The trip starts with a look at the garish cover, the ironic title and the band pic which shows the boys with huge sunglasses, big hair and headbands... Once the CD is in the player, it takes off like a rocket: incredibly fast, but nevertheless highly melodious rockers like "Show me what you got" take turns with Pop Metal à la "Move your body". GGGarth (who has already worked with RATM and KISS) has produced this output - and this guy really knows how to present the band relaxed, tongue-in-cheek, but yet brimming over with energy. But - this release would be superfluous, if it wasn't for front man Tony Gambino spicing up his Don Dokken soundalike vocals with scream parts and if it wasn't for the band going full throttle sometimes. After all, there's a bunch of Ratt and Europe albums out there.... But with these alterations, "Pedal to the metal" is a proper tribute to the eighties constantly and excitingly garnished with modern elements.