Kissin’ Dynamite Addicted to Metal

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by Joe Mis
Staff Writer

Young German hard rockers Kissin’ Dynamite have once again tried to prove that old school hard rock and heavy metal aren’t dead. They’ve just released their second album entitled Addicted To Metal, and it indeed rocks. A follow up to their 2008 debut release, Steel Of Swabia. Addicted To Metal is an onslaught of all things good about the old hair metal days, and a few of the not so good things as well.

Well produced and engineered musically, Kissin’ Dynamite’s albums unabashedly display influences of Motley Crue, Manowar, and AC/DC among many others. Built on solid riffs and big guitar hooks, Kissin’ Dynamite proves that there’s life left in the old metal quintet format. Johannes Braun does lead vocals for the band, and has a great voice for this style of music – sometimes harsh, sometimes gritty with a good range and passable falsetto (which is not over-used). Ande Braun and Jim Müller provide the guitars. Both are excellent rhythm players and lay down some fantastic riffs and choppy fills. Both are capable soloists, but neither at present seems to be at the “guitar hero” level, but that may come as the band is very young. Steffen Haile is a talented bassist and seems to have a good sense of timing and intensity – he’s always in the middle of things but never dominates. Drummer Andreas Schnitzer is probably the standout musician of the band. He can double bass with the best of them and plays with an extremely aggressive, in your face manner – yet somehow manages to keep it all under control.

The album opens in kick-ass fashion with the pounding “Addicted To Metal” – and a healthy dose of gravel voiced Udo Dirkschneider (Accept, U.D.O.). A great arena anthem, the opening track displays the energy, enthusiasm and underlying beliefs of the band and their love of music and performing. “Run For Your Life” is a Dokken/Ratt/Scorpions style track with a nice kicky rhythm line, solid drums and catchy chorus. “Supersonic Killer” would make a great power metal track but is done as more of a plain hard rock track with one of the few really memorable guitar solos on the album, and a great drum line. The band follows with an interesting cover of Damn Yankees’ “High Enough” – but it just doesn’t work as it pulls the band too far out of their natural element as the original was built fully around the vocals – and Hannes Braun is simply not Tommy Shaw. “Love Me Hate Me” is a great upbeat track with some great vocals and a very catchy chorus – another good arena rocker.

Unfortunately at this point the album seems to take a nosedive. “Hysteria,” while musically solid, is out and out raunch-rock and very out of place in comparison to the intelligent and well written first half of the album. Kissin’ Dynamite has enough raw talent to succeed without turning to trash-rock or sleaze. The same can be said of the eighth track “Assassins Of Love” – both songs sound like they were written by a bunch of hormonally challenged high school boys looking for a laugh. “All Against All” is a heavier track loaded with some over-the-top vocals and lyrics that are more suitable for a Malmsteen “Viking rock” performance – without Yngwie’s brilliant guitars. “In The Name Of The Iron Fist” does have a good groove, great vocals and might make a good Saxon tune, but Saxon would never sing “If you don’t respect me then you can kiss my ass.” The brightest spot of the second half of the album is the ballad “Why Can’t You Hear Me” – it is filled with great performances from all the band members, fine vocals, and simple heartfelt lyrics. “We Want More” and “Metal Nation” are decent tracks, but formulaic in lyrics and execution.

Overall, Addicted To Metal is a mixed bag. There are an equal amount of brilliant moments and “WTF?” moments. Undoubtedly the members of Kissin’ Dynamite are incredibly talented, but their youth and lack of experience shows clearly as well. When they put their minds to it, they make fine metal. When they let their youth show, they make trash rock – although even that is usually well executed and performed. With a little seasoning and a more maturity in their lyrics and songwriting, these guys could be huge. This particular album would have made a fabulous five or six song EP, but it seems almost like there are two versions of the band – one professional musical act and one garage band.

Recommended with reservations.

Genre: Hard Rock

Band:
Johannes Braun(vocals)
Ande Braun (guitar)
Jim Müller (guitar)
Andreas Schnitzer (drums)
Steffen Haile(bass)

Track Listing:
1. Addicted To Metal (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
2. Run For Your Life
3. Supersonic Killer
4. High Enough
5. Love Me Hate Me
6. Hysteria
7. All Against All
8. In The Name Of The Iron Fist
9. Assassins Of Love
10. Why Can’t You Hear Me
11. We Want More
12. Metal Nation

Label: Virgin Music

Website: http://www.myspace.com/kissindynamiterocks

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10