by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
Since 1986, Denmark’s D.A.D. has been releasing high quality–OK scratch that. Their first two releases were just plain weird; no way you can listen to songs like “Riding With Sue” and “It’s After Dark” and ever think this band would also create one of the most beloved Hard Rock songs ever, “Sleeping My Day Away.” But they ARE that band, and since 1989, everything they’ve released, from a critical perspective, is still laudable. Like their country mates, Pretty Maids, their worst release is still better than 90 percent of what’s out there passing for Hard Rock music today. They are authentic, they have a sound that’s their own, they have a sense of humor and some of the catchiest guitar licks you’ll ever hear. Their brand new studio effort, A Prayer for the Loud, is all of the above, and more.
The first single, “Burning Star” is a slamming, heated racer, with a tempo that is urgent and dominating. Smart lead singers figured out a long time ago the greatest singers know their instrument, what it can and can’t do, and embrace it. The best singers in any genre find their authentic voice and use it; that’s Jesper. He sounds like no one else except himself, and he hasn’t lost a scintilla of talent over the years, unlike so many ’80s singers.
The title track is a mellower, bluesy composition. You probably don’t expect the D.A.D. dudes to write something like this, but they are not really anything other than whatever the hell they want to be. On “A Prayer for the Loud,” they are blues-based rockers during the verses, and damn near Metalheads during the chorus. “Crescendo” is the right word to describe the constant rise of energy, but it’s almost like two songs in one. Only D.A.D. can pull this off, and other bands should be envious of their songwriting abilities.
Staying on the blues tip, “The Sky is Made of Blues” is another blues-based anthem, yet far more mainstream sounding than the prior track. Jacob Binzer’s guitar style is as distinctive as any well-known guitarist; you can hear a lick by him, and if you are familiar with the band (as you damn well should be), you just KNOW it’s Jacob. The melodies are thick, the backing vocals resonate, and it’s one of the best tracks on the release.
D.A.D., although usually a fairly funny and lighthearted band, has no trouble getting a bit more mature and bringing out a ballad or two. “A Drug for the Heart” thematically mirrors the title song, in narrative style anyway, and it’s introspective. “And maybe love is like a bridge, stopped halfway is what I did. Afraid of the opposite shore … and you wanted more.” The protagonist fights between wanting love and wanting to run, afraid of actually finding it. Soaring vocals, fat melodies and heartfelt deliveries galore, somehow, D.A.D. delivers this kind of song just as well as a rocking anthem.
“Happy Days in Hell” hearkens back to the ’80s, with more distorted riffs and a story to carry things along. “I’m what is left when innocence is betrayed,” sings Jasper, and it’s hard to argue against. It must have been difficult for the band to say something as important as, “This should be a single!” on A Prayer for the Loud, because they are all good enough to represent the entirety of the album–everything is just damnably good.
If there’s one thing you can notice from their earlier releases, they do tend to get a bit mellower and more mainstream with each release. This is by no means a detriment to the band; any song by D.A.D. is better than anything you’ll hear on the radio today, Stateside anyway. “If the World Just” ends the album, another introspective, mid-tempo composition, and like everything else here, there’s a change in tempo and song construct, but the quality never wanes, song 1-11.
Barring the cover art in its somewhat blasphemous beauty, the only thing missing is probably the sense of humor the band is known for. There’s no lyrics that make you guffaw, trading them for lyrics that make you think. At this point, you are picking nits if you want to find anything negative to say about D.A.D. in totality. Just be thankful that unlike most bands who released their first album in the ’80s, D.A.D. never stopped growing as artists, musicians, and songwriters. A Prayer for the Loud answers prayers we might not have even know we had.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
Jesper Binzer – Vocals, Guitar
Stig Pedersen – Bass, Vocals
Jacob Binzer – Guitar
Laust Sonne – Drums
Tracklisting:
01. Burning Star
02. A Prayer For The Loud
03. Nothing Ever Changes
04. The Sky Is Made Of Blues
05. The Real Me
06. No Doubt About It
07. A Drug For The Heart
08. Musical Chairs
09. Time Is A Train
10. Happy Days In Hell
11. If The World Just
Label: AFM Records
Online:
https://d-a-d.dk
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.5 / 10)
