Storace – Crossfire
(Frontiers SRL – 2024)
(Genre – Rock)
Back in the day I loved Krokus, especially the trio of albums ‘Metal Rendezvous’ ‘Hardware’ & ‘One Vice At A Time’. Marc Storace is a diminutive frontman; but his voice and stage presence made him a giant.
‘Headhunter’ & ‘The Blitz’ saw Krokus achieve major success in the USA, but covers of The Sweet’s ‘Ballroom Blitz & Alice Cooper’s ‘Schools Out’ were a touch too much for me and my interest waned, but my memories of two sensational shows at Ipswich Gaumont & Hammersmith Odeon remain logged in my mind.
‘Headhunter’ & ‘The Blitz’ saw Krokus achieve major success in the USA, but covers of The Sweet’s ‘Ballroom Blitz & Alice Cooper’s ‘Schools Out’ were a touch too much for me and my interest waned, but my memories of two sensational shows at Ipswich Gaumont & Hammersmith Odeon remain logged in my mind.
Many complained and went ‘Screaming In The Night’ with the AC/DC comparisons but ‘Hardware’ & ‘One Vice At A Time’ were easily the equals of the Aussies. It has been a long time since I have heard Marc Storace sing but from the moment ‘Screaming Demon’ opens this album I am transported back to the early 80’s. That voice roars with intensity and an explosive passion that defies his 73 years.
It is not all about that band from down under, there are moments that hint at Def Leppard, but none of this really matters as Storace have delivered an excellent Hard Rock record. Standout tracks are the album closing ballad ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’, what a surprise, what a voice!
The rhythm section is as tight as the proverbial ‘Ducks Arse’ the production by Alice Cooper’s Tommy Hendriksen is crystal clear and the mix is spot on thanks to Olle Romo.
The album has an anthemic feel throughout, hopefully Marc will tour this record playing most of it with a mixture of Krokus classics, if he does it will be an absolute blast, full of ‘Adrenaline’ rockers and a touch of Blues courtesy of ‘Millionaire Blues’. ‘Hell Yeah’, Let’s Get Nuts, and wait for the noise abatement force and their ‘Sirens’!
The line -up of ‘Storace’ is completed by; Dom Favez – Rhythm Guitar, Serge Christen – Lead Guitar, Patrick Aeby – Drums and Emi Meyer – Bass. Together they unleash an album that will ‘Rock This City’, not only that you will definitely want to be caught in its ‘CROSSFIRE!
By Paul Mace