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Artist: Dave Evans |
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You can only imagine what it must do to a singer to see the band he got kicked out of reach the heights of superstar status. It must either eat away at them for years thinking "If only" ..., or they must literally just shrug their shoulders and get on with their own thing. This is what Dave Evans seems to have done after his experience of being the original singer of a small combo called AC/DC. Not to be outdone, he's proving to be a bit of a lad himself when it comes to rock n' roll, and on 'Judgement Day', you can see how. 'We Don't Dance To Your Song' begins the album with it's boogie blues rock theme that made his former band who they are now, and the likes of Airbourne who are introducing a new wave of fans to its scratched guitars riff is unmistakable whoever plays it and it'll get the same response, nodding head, stamping foot and horned fingers in the air. The tale of a female rock fan is told via 'Little Headbanger', a relentless thumper that, if truth be told, could have been written by a teenager, as it sounds as if the subject is seen through the eyes of a kid instead of a man of his age. Each to his own though. Dear old Bon is written all over 'Another Boy On The Street', which Evan's shouldn't be put out by, it just proves that they come from the same place. The harsh, gang-like vocals from the band pill into 'You Talkin' To Me', with Evans & Co make sure you get the message loud and clear, the drums walloped at a frantic pace, almost tribal in its beat. By now a lot of similarities between Evans and certain bands will have come to light, but who cares? As long as the music hits the spot, so what, it's all good stuff going on here. 'Ain't Gonna Do You To Me Anymore' has to be one of the sleaziest bluesy rockers you'll hear for a while. The bass walks the walk from the start, the guitar following suit as it scratches and screams in unison, but not to be outdone, 'Band Moll' steps over the line when you hear the lyrics! There's plenty of tongue in cheek (surely?!) from Evans in his manner and storytelling, beginning slowly before rattling alone at breakneck sp0eed for the chorus that is surely a candidate for "fists in the air" song of the year. The album's mood changes drastically with 'Shoot On sight', as things turn towards a far heavier vein as the guitar takes on a bone rattling level as its so hard sounding. 'Helluva Night' comes along and confirms the change after the drums get a good hammering and said guitar, both miles away from how they were at the start of the album. You could say Evans has played his ace card now and shows his real self, not just being one of those run of the mill Bon Scott wannabes, as he's totally thrown that notion out with the cat, no more than with 'Judgement Day', a hard rocker of the best kind. More of those grinding guitar attacks just eat their way into your brain, the singer himself sounds like someone you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, the way he pits his words out above the mayhem behind him. It's all enough to make you shudder just listening to it all spill from the speakers, so god knows what is going to be like live? Every singer loves to do their version of a timeless classic some time in their career, and with 'House Of The Rising Sun', Evans couldn't have picked a more apt song to try his hand at. It could easily have been written for him, sounding like a tormented man as his voice cracks while he wails out the song. To stick with the current state of play, the guitar is a lot grittier than what was on the original version, the track now having a more dangerous feel to it than what the Animals gave it. God knows what Eric Burdon would make of it, but I'd doubt Evans would care to be honest. It wasn't hard to see why Dave Evans was first in line for the gig with 'DC all those years ago, as he's definitely got the attitude and the cahoona's to front that type of band on evidence of 'Judgement Day'. His shot at the big time most people yarn for may have passed him by now, but by hell, he can still give most a run for their money, when it comes to good old bar room rock n' roll like this. Check him out live if you can, I've got a feeling it's going to be something special. Review by: Bob |
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| Tracklisting:
1.
We Don't Dance To Your Song |
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All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated. |
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