One
of the most misunderstood Hard Rock bands to emerge from the 1980’s is
returning with their highly anticipated sixth studio album. Comprised of
original members Kip Winger on vocals/bass, Reb Beach on guitar, Rod
Morgenstein on drums, plus long-term guitarist John Roth, Winger is
releasing Better Days Comin’, their first album for five years. They
will be promoting it with a main stage appearance at Download Festival, and the
inaugural Frontiers Festival in Milan at the beginning of May.
"On
‘Better Days Comin’’ we drew from our past to elaborate on our future. The band
is stronger than ever and very excited about the music on this record,” explains front man Kip Winger. “We feel this
album exemplifies the true sound of the band in every way."
I’d heard on the grapevine that Better Days Comin’
was a return to form for the NYC outfit. If the likes of Seventeen, HFAH, Easy
Come Easy Go, and Down Incognito rock your Winger world the this new one will
fit in very nicely with your album collection, as it’s a good as anything they
have ever done, and that’s saying something. Whilst many 90s bands are living
firmly on their past status Winger are driving theirs forward with aplomb.
‘Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine’ is perfect
evidence of why Winger in 2014 are kicking ass – and that is down to Kip
Wingers voice – its completely unchanged and sounding better than it ever did.
Couple this instrument in itself with the dual guitar attack of Messers Roth
and Beach, and the rhythmic and powerful drumming of Rod Morgenstein, and it
truly is a beautiful thing to behold. ‘Queen Babylon’ is a modern day classic –
classic Winger with a ‘Pull’ vibe, also the harmonics on ‘Rat Race’, just make
me go all ‘goosey!’. Title Track ‘BDC’ has a soulful/gospel vibe to proceedings
and is a step back from the first three but a nice and welcome change to the
flow. ‘Tin Soldier’ starts off rather nice, with a technical prog riff, showing
their musical prowess off, proving they are (and never were) just a hair metal
band, with Morgensteins drumming driving the whole song forward and is probably
one of the highlights for me personally.
‘Ever Wonder’ sees the guys get their laid back
groove on, but after this BDC fails to set the very high standards of the first
half. That said, its still good, but the first half was stunning!!
From
the opening riff of album opener ‘Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine’ to the
final outro lick of ‘Out Of This World,’ it is clear Winger is
back and better than ever. Hard rocking songs like ‘Queen Babylon,’ progressive
rock moments like ‘Tin Soldier,’ and touching ballads like ‘Ever Wonder’
display the band’s diversity while always centering on great songs. The debut
single from ‘Better Days Comin’’ is the adrenaline fueled rocker ‘Rat
Race’ that showcases some of the band’s best work of their 25 year career.
Better
Days Comin’? On this evidence, abso-fuckin-lutely!
Score
– 90/100
Release
Dates
Europe
– April 18th
Tracklisting: Midnight Driver Of A Love
Machine; Queen Babylon; Rat Race; Better Days Comin'; Tin Soldier; Ever Wonder;
So Long China; Storm In Me; Be Who You Are, Now; Another Beautiful Day (*); Out
Of This World.
WINGER
are…
Kip
Winger – bass guitar, vocals
Reb
Beach - guitars
Rod
Morgenstein - drums
John
Roth - guitars
VIDEO : Midnight Driver Of A Love
Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tOzsssTtDU
VIDEO
: Rat Race https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp57jqoKJ7E
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