If you’re creating a band that plays punchy, hook-laden, in-your-face hard rock, you’re going to want a name which tells you that before you’ve even delved into the music. Which is where Heroes and Monsters come in as they race out of their gate with their debut album. However, this one comes with a twist: each member of the power trio has an eye-wateringly stacked CV. Todd “Dammit” Kerns (vocals and bass) has The Age of Electric, Static in Stereo, Original Sin LV, Toque, his own solo work and of course, one of Slash’s Conspirators. Stef Burns (guitar) boasts Huey Lewis and the News, Y&T, Alice Cooper and Vasco Rossi and his own solo activities. And last but not least, Will Hunt (drums) currently has Evanescence as his day job, whilst previously playing with Black Label Society, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Vasco Rosso, and Michael Sweet.
Somehow, they’ve managed to carve out some time to form a band to write and record an album’s worth of material (and tour Italy with it in the coming weeks). Given the pedigree involved, it’s an album which needs to be investigated. Thankfully, the premise and personnel involved mesh together to create an exhilarating listen, evoking their moniker. Indeed, there are some absolutely monstrous songs crammed into the ten tracks found on the self-titled album.
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Right from the off with lead single and opening track “Locked and Loaded”, you know what this band is about. This is uncompromising, straightforward rock delivered by a band whose individual reputations precede them. Even before Kerns’ recognisable rasping drawl kicks in on the track, you know you’re in for a hell of a ride as the band grabs you and hurtles you through the ten tracks, barely giving you a chance to pause for air. As chunky guitar kicks out from the speakers, mixed with the pounding drums, you know immediately the bands aren’t taking any prisoners on this album.
Elsewhere, “Raw Power” snarls with danger with its punk attitude and the thick bassline fighting the guitar for dominance, combined with Kerns’ own vocal bark, there’s a more savage feel to it. “Let’s Ride It” is the perfect comedown off the back of it with its feel-good tone and lyrics, aided by gang vocals, it’ll encourage you to fist pump the sky. It’s the least aggressive of the three singles but the one with the most resonance and sonically, most interesting. Driven by steady drum work, the scratchy guitar takes a back seat here whilst Kerns uses the higher end of his vocal register.
Despite the band’s modus operandi, there’s a couple of tamer moments in “Angels Never Sleep” and “Don’t Tell Me I’m Wrong”. Both aim for the power ballad end of the spectrum, assisted by acoustic twanging before they both kick into a higher gear. It never goes full AOR and neither of them kill the momentum built. Each feature their own share of angst, ably enhanced when they both hit the throttle. However, full-blooded ballad “And You’ll Remain” closes the album with its melancholic nature. It’s an ideal comedown for such a relentless record but it still find a way to pack its own punch in the crescendo.
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The band also toy with a bit of Bon Scott-era AC/DC on “Break Me (I’m Yours)”, its scuzzy riff locks in with the boogie rhythm and could have featured on something like Let There Be Rock. Whilst the chorus does open up into a more power pop territory before heading back to the AC/DC well, it’s done seamlessly. Meanwhile, “I Knew You Were the Devil” and “Blame” aim for a grungier sound, the chunky chords feel like they’re spat out with an air of petulance.
Heroes and Monsters aren’t reinventing the wheel on their album. They don’t have to. Instead, it’s a celebration of how great uncomplicated, uncompromising hard rock can be, especially when it’s presented by credentials which aren’t to be taken lightly. It’s the combination of Kerns, Burns and Hunt which make this album one to continue listening to with each of them bringing nothing less than their best combined with a palpable chemistry which is baked into the recording. As they put the “power” into power rock, it’s nothing that’s not been done before, they’ve just done it better.
Header image by Enzo Mazzeo
Heroes and Monsters is released on 20th January
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“Will Hunt (drums) currently has Evanescence as his day job.” Will is Evanescence’s drummer since 2007.