The proverbial punch in the teeth, full of cursing and uncontrollable attitude.
Party Tonight (named after the Scott Weiland quote "There is a fucking party tonight") is a rock n' roll project that aims to "give new sounds, new colours and new life to a relic R&R scene living on the shoulders of 70s and 80s bands" – a big statement, but do they live up to it?
With an instantly recognisable sound thanks to the presence of both male and female vocalists, the album kicks off like the proverbial punch in the teeth, full of cursing and uncontrollable attitude.
Despite the meaty guitar riffs and raunchy theme, there is an unmistakeably camp vibe throughout "Rock n Roll For The Masses", making this sound more glam-inspired than the hard rock bands they cite as their inspiration. At times it's difficult to ascertain whether it's the male or female vocalist singing, making the music sound somewhat pubescent in places.
'Take On The Devil' was the most surprising track on the album, stripping away all of the bravado from the previous tracks. Opened by a beautifully simple guitar melody, building up slowly into a powerful, passionate rock ballad, this completely unexpected song portrayed a maturity that I had not witnessed elsewhere on the album. Add to this impressive vocal performances by both Chris and Michelle that were a million times better than on any other track and it's easy to see why this was by far my favourite song.
So the question is, have Party Tonight succeeded in their aim to modernise and accessorise the iconic music of the 70s and 80s? In their own bizarre way yes they have and as surprised as I am to admit it, this is a rather enjoyable album... that is, once the initial shock has faded! Whilst it's not a patch on the real thing, it is an interesting representation that will hopefully grab the interest of a new generation of classic rock fans.
Party Tonight's "Rock n Roll For The Masses" is available now in all the usual places; if you like balls to the wall music that has a youthful mischief that can't be suppressed, then this is album is an essential addition to your collection. I'm quite looking forward to the day that the Italian sextet find their way onto British shores; I have no doubt they'll make their presence felt!
Party Tonight are vocalists Chris Dandy and Michelle, guitarists elChegue and Jack Ocaine, bassist Lenny Lay and Mike Bazzano on drums. To find out more about Party Tonight, check out www.partytonight.it