Label: Denomination/Transsubstans Records 2012
Review by Kimmo Toivonen
With a new vocalist Kriss Lohikoski Svensson in the band, Dirty Passion are hoping to make it to the first league of Swedish Hard Rock with this album. They might actually succeed, because "In Wonderland" is a rather excellent platter.
I liked the band's first album, so I was looking forward to this one. The first track "Into The Wild" was a bit of a shocker though, a punky sleaze rocker with a messy sound. The new singer is buried in the mix and it sounds like he's trying just a bit too hard. I couldn't help but think that the band had made some very questionable decisions... but things improve a lot after the first song.
"Dead End" kicks off with some cool guitar work and what do you know, Kriss Lohikoski Svensson cuts down most of his strange yelps and starts sounding quite good! Some cool background vocals in the chorus too, nice! The catchy "Lovers Lane" follows, it has a bit of a Hanoi Rocks-like swagger to it. "When Darkness Falls" is power ballad with a big chorus, think "18 And Life" for reference.
"Sinner" has a bit of a funky vibe, reminding me of a band called Kingofthehill, while the ballad "Make It Last" takes us straight to L.A. circa 1989. Back then, this would have been a surefire single and a MTV video... "Addicted" is another semi-balladic track but with a different vibe, a bit of Hanoi Rocks, maybe some Kix thrown in... a good track anyway.
The video'ed (is there such a word?) "Daughter Of The Reaper" reminds me again of Hanoi Rocks - can't help it, it just does! "Light Of The Candle" might just be my favourite song. I've always been a sucker for a well-placed "Whoa-oh", and this slightly Crashdiet-like track has those.
"Stay" is the weakest of the ballads and I'm not that crazy about the closing track "Shadowland" either, it is plagued by the same chaotic atmosphere as the first song, with Krisse's vocals fighting for space during the choruses and losing.
If I now calculate that I liked most of the tracks and the weaker 3 or 4 weren't completely without their merits, I'll have to give this... an "R"! And then a couple more! What the hell, let's throw that fourth one there too!
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