Review: Manic Eden – Manic Eden (Re-issue)

Music Theories Recordings (April 12^th, 2024)

Reviewer: Grant Foster

Originally released in 1994, this absolute gem of an album is as close to a supergroup as you can get in hard rock circles.

Except don’t expect hard rock!

Adrian Vandenberg, Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge were on hiatus from Sir David of Coverdale’s Trousersnake and decided to get a band going.

The Grunge scene had hit, but Vandenberg wanted  something more organic that reminded him of the bands that he grew up with. Something a bit ‘rough around the edges, spontaneous, dynamic and emotional.’

Little Caesar singer Ron Young was recruited and with the instrumental tracks recorded added his signature voice to proceedings. In about two weeks it was done.

I remember buying this and thinking how different it sounded to a lot of what was floating around in the rock genre back then. In fact it still does now. Every song is infused with bluesy, groove ridden, soulful, rocking, gritty joyful attitude. It has that timeless feel to it.

The highlights are many. ‘Do Angels Die‘ and ‘Ride The Storm‘ are both heartfelt slower songs that avoid the usual pastiches that you might associate with these type of tunes.

‘When The Hammer Comes Down‘ is a night out with the boys, boom, smack and fun!’Gimme A Shot‘ and ‘Pushing Me‘ have that space that bands rarely incorporate.

‘Fire In My Soul‘ threatens to be a slowie and then stomps on a groove that you can’t help but feel to the soles of your shoes. ‘Keep It Coming‘ is blues AC/DC with cowbell.

Adrian Vandenberg indulges in his Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan love of blues, but doesn’t simply copy and paste.

Star of the show for me is Ron Young on vocals. It would have been easy to go for a HM helium filled singer. But it would have diluted and trod roughshod over what ME were trying to achieve here. Ron is all about soul, blues, grit with a touch of rock. His delivery fits like a hand in a velvet glove.

This CD has held a place in my top twenty since its initial release. Thirty years later, let it become your best friend too.

Tracklist:

01. Can You Feel It
02. Gimme A Shot
03. Fire In My Soul
04. Do Angels Die
05. Pushing Me
06. Dark Shade Of Grey
07. Keep It Coming
08. When The Hammer Comes Down
09. Ride The Storm
10. Can’t Hold It
11. Crossin’ The Line (digital only)