Black Rose "Cure For Your Disease" (2010)

It’s been almost eight years since this album came out, but it’s still criminally overlooked. There are a few questions that make me wonder why? First, how did that happen that the CD didn’t get enough attention at the time? Secondly, why it wasn’t re-issued by any independent metal label like High Roller Records or Divebomb Records?

The album rocks even after first listen. It’s hard to believe that it was recorded at the homes studios and the musicians were separated by the long distance. The sound production on “Cure For Your Disease” is a very good mix of pure rock energy and modern technologies. Even after eight years the album still sounds great.

As far as the songs, here we’ve got awesome hard’n’heavy with the strong vibe of American bands of the 80’s. It’s not your typical cheese hair metal or commercial stuff like Def Leppard, but the roots of the songs obviously lies overseas. “Twice Shy, Once Bitten” reminds of Keel, “Take It Easy” and “Love Addiction” are very Van Halen-esque; “Fight For Your Life” might be close to early Dokken stuff, while “Doghouse” is closer to Hughes-Turner Project. “So Predictable” has an awesome groove (like almost every song on the album has). My personal favorite here is “Rock Renegades”. This hot and powerful song is a good example of what could be if Jon Bon Jovi would join Scorpions during recording of the “Love At The First Sting” album. If the song had been recorded back in 1988, Black Rose would have become international stars – that’s for sure.

The vast majority of the songs are based on strong riffs, rock solid rhythm section and killer lead guitar work. The axeman Chris Watson plays very tasty solos and always for the greater good of the songs (Ian Iredale, the guitarist on the "Nightmares" EP, put a couple of solos down as well). The voice of Steve Bardsley seems hasn’t change a bit since 1987. He is still able to sing powerful and demanding but is able to deliver more gentle performance. BUT I still have no clue what’s wrong with the album and why it didn’t propel into rock stratosphere.

Well, I have an idea or two. The problem might be in that the band didn’t push the album as hard as it deserved and abandoned it after a while. Chris Watson left the band and with the new line-up Steve Bardsley went on to play older songs from the early albums. Probably the album turned out to be too “commercial” or too “American” for the NWOBHM maniacs and actually it is. But if you don’t think that all British bands should sound like Motorhead or Tank, do yourself a favour and listen to the album – I’m sure there will be a new album in the list of your all-time favorites and its title is “Cure For Your Disease”.

For all things related to this album please contact Chris Watson - wahwahwatson@ntlworld.com

01. Cure For Your Disease

02. Sign Of The Times
03. Twice Shy Once Bitten
04. Fight For Your Life
05. Doghouse
06. Baby Believe Me
07. Love Addiction
08. Killing Yourself To Live
09. Got Me Where You Want Me
10. Rock Renegades
11. Take It Easy
12. So Predictable