Every now and then an album comes
along from a band or an artist I’ve never heard of and completely blows me
away. I normally don’t review albums that are four years old, but when an LP is
that great, it’s the exception to the rule. I’m talking about Christian Shields’
debut record, This is Rock ‘N’ Roll,
which was released in March of 2020, when Covid first shut down the world. It
brought the promotion of the LP to a near full stop and most likely sidetracked
a lot of its momentum. Fast forward to now and Christian is still going hard,
playing shows, releasing singles and videos with a stellar record in his
pocket. That’s when I first heard it, and man, the album’s title couldn’t have
been picked better. It’s wall-to-wall hard rock/arena rock.
“Not This Time” gets the
celebration going, a synth-driven tune that pulls you in, hooking you
instantly, chock-full of great guitars. “Rock and Roll” is an ode to rock ‘n’
roll and an earworm of a song. An anthem with the kind of classic rock lyrics
that make you smile. “Lie to Me” isn’t a cover of the Bon Jovi ballad, but
rather a catchy rock tune that’s actually one of the highlights of the record. “By
the Strings” is a bona fide ballad and I wish more rock/metal bands still did
them. This would’ve been a chart-topper back in the glory days of FM radio. “Can’t
Get Enough” is a kick-ass Mötley Crüe kind of a song. This one’ll have you
bobbing your head along. The pace slows down a bit for “Here Comes the Man”
with its cool, smoky vibe that I dig a lot. “All or Nothing” picks the beat
back up with its infectious riff and catchy chorus. “Raise ‘Em Up” is the
latest single and features a fun video that I recommend checking out. It’s an
absolute balls-to-the-wall party song. “Without You” isn’t a redo of the Crüe ballad,
but an original ballad that happens to be one of my faves of the record. It’s
got heart and showcases a more mellow side of Christian. “Off the Track” is the
closing track and a banger of a song at that. It’s there to remind you that the
party doesn’t have to end and that you can just hit “Play” to spin the LP all
over again.
Christian Shields’ This is Rock ‘N’ Roll is a finely-crafted
record from top to bottom. All killer, no filler. Every song could be a single
as far as I’m concerned. A high-energy party album, a perfectly-balanced collection
of tunes with pop sensibilities that are full of melodic hooks and catchy riffs
and plenty of guitar solos to boot. Shields’ vocals make a strong impression,
having both range and a unique sound to them. He’s backed by a solid band that
contributes to make this a sizzling record. Fans of KISS, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe,
and Skid Row will love this album. And I’d wager that most folks who are into
hard rock and hair metal will dig it a lot as well. So, in this day and age
where an album is considered old when it wasn’t released in the last twelve
months, make this one the exception and take it for a spin. It’s bound to make
your day.
Christian Shields on Bandcamp: https://christianshields.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-rock-n-roll
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