PRIVATE ANGEL – Nailed
- Posted on 14-07-2011
Third album for this group of German musicians who have known each other for 25 years. With this being my first exposure to Private Angel, I went into “Nailed” hoping for solid traditional hard rock that seems to be a trademark of this country. I believe this 11 song album delivers in spades – even if there are some obvious reference points to the band’s sound. Guitarist Dazz Shepherd has to know he’s channeling “The Immigrant Song” in the main riff of “Last Chance” and “Tramp Stamp Boogie” has a lot in common with the infamous Gillan/Blackmore Deep Purple days – but Private Angel do it in such a way that it’s a tip of the cap and not merely a lack of originality facet to the quartet.
Vocalist Robbo Stoelzel just oozes 70’s-like charm through his bluesy hard rock melodies – his lyrics covering easy going good time material just as much as the current military crisis in an epic ballad like “Kush” (made all the more poignant with conga-like percussion). The rhythm section of drummer Jo Schmidt and bassist Peter Tobolla form a symbiotic tightness necessary to hammer home the strong riffing and hooks of winning material like “Human Wreck” and the UFO meets Bonfire magic of “Tomorrow Today Is Yesterday”. The band understand the foundation of great hard rock remains with the power and strength of main riffs – and “Nailed” has a boatload for listeners to latch onto and hum away long after the final chords subside.
If you desire a rougher, lively production from your hard rock groups, Private Angel and “Nailed” will be an excellent pick up. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another five years for the fourth studio album – we need more Private Angel in our lives!