Powerzone is the second album from powerhouse vocalist Chez Kane following up here eponymous debut album from around eighteen months or so ago.
That debut (review here) was a stunning effort of high quality, powerful, 1980s style throwback to the hard-edged melodic rock from back then along the lines of Pat Benatar, Scandal, Heart, Vixen and similar with the big female-fronted vocals and instantly irresistible and infectious songs.
Pleased to say that here on Powerzone it’s more of the same and I’d say even a notch better than the debut.
The song writing and instrumentation all handled by Danny Rexon (Crazy Lixx) with Chez providing the full range of her considerable vocal talents with plenty of fire and energy so suited is her style to the songs.
Each one is a winner with that marvellous nostalgia trip back to the 1980s. Clean and hard riffs, soaring solos, keys and that voice all coming together to complete the musical recipe to the maximum. Proper top stuff with plenty of variety in the delivery too.
The opener hooks you straight away. A monstrous few minutes of hard melodic rock with a hook and chorus so catchy it’s off the scale.
The rest of the album delivers to the same standard consistently all the way through to the final note of the closing song. Make no mistake.
To select a few particular highlights is difficult from an album as good as Powerzone. I’ll have a go though….
Rock You Up is as cheesy as they come though impossible not to like for the same reason. A feel-good song with one of those big anthemic shout along chorus jobs. Imagine it’ll be a proper crowd pleaser if played live.
Love Gone Wild has Chez belting out the big vocal licks allied this time with a spot of saxophone thrown in for the extra ingredient.
Children of Tomorrow Gone has something of a “power ballad” feel to it. A slightly slower-paced song with an effective use of the keyboards being a nice touch.
The title track turns it up the eleven. Big, big melodic hard rocker with everything thrown at it. Particularly the guitar. Have a listen.
The quality does not drop off at any point. Each song a mini-masterpiece so very well written and performed and produced.
The power and range of Chez’s vocals allied with Danny’s song writing and the 1980s hard/melodic rock style is indeed an instant winner. Can’t go wrong with Powerzone. It’s superb.
>> CHEZ KANE POWERZONE ON AMAZON HERE <<