Former Whitesnake gunslinger Adrian Vandenberg and the wonderful Moonkings are back with yet another slab of bluesy and groovy hard rock in the grand old tradition of Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Free, and the aforementioned Whitesnake. Now, MK II is not merely a glorious throwback to the days of old; it is a sharp, current, and well-written record boasting great vocals, stellar melodies, forceful riffs, a solid production, and more bombastic choruses than you can wrap your tiny little mind around. It has that feeling of longing, heartbreak, and hard living to it (in large part due to its bluesy elements and the lyrics) yet is uplifting too.

 

The interplay between Sem Christoffel (bass) and Mart Nijen Es (drums) is superb and one of the primary reasons why this is such a pleasure to listen to. There is plenty of groove to the disc and the music strikes a good balance between being driven and energetic on the one hand and laidback on the other. Highlights include "Tightrope", "Angel in Black", the Zeppelin-esque "The Fire", "All or Nothing", and the insanely catchy "Love Runs Out". The latter is simply infectious.

There is room for improvement in that the vocals sound a little forced in a few places and that a couple of the tunes are slightly lacklustre, but the record as a whole rips and is quite easy on the ear. You need this one!