Four Denmark guys decided to form a band and model it on Antipodean bands like (you guessed) AC/DC and Rose Tattoo but, rather than become just clones, they added in some classy Scandic-rock overtones to come up with straightforward, in your face rock and roll. Lucer is the band and the new album, L.A. Collection, delivers on that recipe on nine solid tracks of quality rock. It surpasses the previous two albums due to the identity that now exists within this young group.
Take opener ‘Make My Getaway’, with its familiar, yet different, riff and that kind of sums them up: they don’t try to reinvent the wheel, just build their stories around established templates. ‘Living On the Line’ is possibly even more Aussie but still fresh, bluesy and very satisfying while it ain’t no solution either, give it a listen and you’ll know what I mean.
‘Stabbed in the Kneecap’ may not be the most romantic title, but the early Acca Dacca pulled in proper rock’n’roll and this does too and is full of imagination as well as cliches. The closing track is the best for me; yes, the Bon era runs wild, but the riff does bring something different… bluesy and almost Faces crossed with Bad Co. with Bon on vocals, especially with the very good guitar solo that ditches cliches. Lucer do echo AC/DC and will most probably be compared to Airbourne but, and this is purely personal, I think they’re better! As the press release says; “Released on black vinyl with an uncompromising production and no bull s*** playing style. Turn up the volume!”
Released on 11th June on black vinyl
