Diva Demolition formed in Brisbane, Australia in 2013 from the ashes of progressive rock punk band Legless. They were the Australian national support for the international Monster Tour of Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Thin Lizzy. They have also supported Aerosmith in New Zealand and Australia. Not a bad recommendation then?
It was last year that Sherree Newton (Guitar/Vocals), Kylie Cowling (Bass/Vocals), Ricky Collision (Guitar) started laying down the tracks for this debut album. They enrolled a couple of fellow Australians to help out on two of the tracks; Ross Wilson (Mondo Rock, Daddy Cool) and Bluesman Matt Taylor (Chain).
The opening track ‘Dynamite’ opens with a catchy riff and spoken verse bringing to mind teenage dreams of Deborah Harry on Top of the Pops…but the tracking is a lot heavier. ‘Devil In The Detail’ is like the Pretenders, but a lot, lot better. ‘Faceless People’ has a blues groove which has a great guitar section in the middle.
‘Biker Babe’ may suggest the ‘Angels, but is actually performed as a ballad and is non-the worse for that; plus we actually get a proper guitar solo. ‘Do What You Do, Skin On Skin’ (‘Take on the World’ by Priest echoes throughout…apart from the lyrics) and ‘Take it Off’ (Spice Girls anyone?) are simple songs about both meanings of love!
‘Easier Way’, with Ross Wilson helping out is heavy country, with the harmonica giving a bit of depth. The final track is a cover of Matt Taylor’s hit (in Australia) single. Featuring the composer, it is almost a field song – not having heard the original, which may be the point. A good blues tune with a decent solo in the middle too.
A strangely captivating album, which is an amalgam of 1980s female rock but with a definite edginess. The playing is exemplary and only suffers from a lack of identity. A couple of the tracks veer toward rapping which takes the ear off the music. I genuinely look forward to the next step with this band.
