Billion Dollar Babies Die for Diamonds
by Erik Tweedy
Staff Writer
If you were not already aware of it, Sweden is the new Los Angeles. It seems these days every band you hear about in the glam/hard rock music scene is from Sweden. Billion Dollar Babies are another band on a long list of successful Swedish exports. They first hit the scene in 2005 with their self released EP that caught the attention of several European labels. Esmeralda Music Group snatched these boys up and have issued their first major label release, Die For Diamonds.
As with many of the rock bands coming out of Sweden, and Europe in general, the music on Die For Diamonds is heavily influenced by the major ‘80s bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Journey. Billion Dollar Babies have a nice polished sound that is very familiar but doesn’t sound overly dated.
Kicking things off is “Boys Night Out”, a fast paced, funky, keyboard laden track that will have you tapping your toes and shaking a leg. This could have been a big hit during the peak of the Huey Lewis period of commercial rock on MTV. One of the best tracks on Die For Diamonds is track #2, “Highest Mountain”. This high energy melodic track with its great chorus is sure to be a fan favorite during their live show. Up next is the mid-paced “Restless Minds” that fills the early tempo with some horns and another solid chorus. One thing this band does very well is harmonize. Everyone in the band sings and every track has great backing vocals.
Cranking things up a notch, “Lose It” is a faced paced rocker that sounds like a mix of Motley Crue and Buckcherry with a pounding rhythm section and finally, some guitar solos. The vocals here are not as smooth as the early tracks, but this is a fun barnburner with a more modern feel to it. “Key to My Heart” is a pure melodic gem that will have you thinking back to your Senior Prom in 1983. The lead vocals here are top notch and the chorus again is superb.
Slowing things down a bit is the mid-tempo bluesy “Second Time Around”. A nice tasty guitar solo at the 2-minute mark and another solid chorus are the highlights here. Not a filler track but not overly exciting either when compared to the fun flowing “Right On Time” up next. “Right on Time” is a big up tempo rocker with a great piano interlude that is very reminiscent of ‘70s version REO Speedwagon, before they went all drippy with ballads. A fun song and a great pick me up.
Up next is the Bon Jovi inspired “Stand Your Ground”. With its “Born To Be My Baby” type intro, this track will have you pulling out the Aquanet and putting on the spandex. Listen closely to the lyrics at the beginning about how hard Cindy has to work and tell me this is not a rewrite of the Bon Jovi classic, complete with the “Two, Three, Four” vocal intro. There are so many influences spanning across this release that every track sounds like it could be on a greatest melodic hits of the ‘80s compilation. There is some ripping guitar work done on this track towards the end as it fades into “Nineteen Ninety Four”. With its Motley Crue inspired drum intro, “Nineteen Ninety Four” kicks this one into high gear. The most aggressive track on “Die For Diamonds” pulls in a Slash sounding guitar solo that comes right off of “Welcome to the Jungle”. This is a great hard rock track that drives this release home as it finishes up with “We Don’t Live Forever”. Another fast paced track with a muddy bottom end that gives us more of the same perfectly harmonized chorus, some tasty guitar licks and great vocals from Frankie Rich.
Overall, Billion Dollar Babies have struck the mother lode with their first major label release. If you are a fan of European melodic rock, mixed with a bit of glam, there is plenty here for you to enjoy. The production is very good, the song formula is great and the harmonizing is superb. Mix that with the great lead vocals, a solid rhythm section and some tasty guitar work and you have yourself a winner.
Band:
Frankie Rich: Vocals
Jon Silver: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Pat Kramer: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Nic Lester: Bass, Backing Vocals
Robban XII: Drums, Backing Vocals
Track Listing:
Boys Night Out
Highest Mountain
Restless Minds
Lose It
Key To My Heart
Second Time Around
Right On Time
Stand Your Ground
Nineteen Ninety Four
We Don’t Live Forever
Label: Esmeralda Music Group/Pure Steel Records
http://www.billiondollarbabies.nu/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10