The North Country’s Entertainment Magazine
The North Country’s Entertainment Magazine
Buckcherry stepped out onto the stage twenty-five years ago. Within that time frame they have released eleven albums. The band has hit the gold level of sales
with their hits "Crazy Bitch", "Lit "and "Sorry" but they have never strayed too far from their original signature sound of hard rock grit with pop infused melodies.
The Southern California rockers have always disregarded trends and have
remained true to themselves. That characteristic has enabled Buckcherry to maintain a long successful career.
The new album Roar Like Thunder, on Round Hill Records, is the most consistent work they have released in years. Buckcherry along with producer Marti Frederiksen have captured their raw live energy in the studio, creating a collection of high-octane rock anthems. The current lineup is firing on all cylinders with founding member Josh Todd on lead vocals, long-time contributor Stevie D supplying the leads, Billy Rowe on rhythm guitar and holding down the back beat are Kelly LeMieux on bass along with drummer Francis Ruiz.
The new album demands your attention with its catchy hooks and memorable melodies. It draws you in and doesn't let you go until the last note. The album's opening track "Roar Like Thunder" explodes out of your speakers like a runaway train. It comes at you full speed, jam packed with high-powered rock n roll. The level of intensity doesn't falter. Every track is in your face with rock steady rhythms and riff driven guitar. Pretty much every song has the potential to storm the charts as individual singles. No filler here, each track delivers a strong dose of hard rock, heavy when it needs to be, but never sacrificing the pop sensibilities.
The no holds barred vocals of Josh Todd are a force of nature, with power and passion. His performance adds an emotional level that is often lacking in the modern hard rock vocals of today. The guitars from Stevie D and Billy Rowe provide the infectious melodies and powerful guitar riffs. Not to be outdone
LeMieux and Ruiz provide the necessary muscle at the bottom end. Buck Cherry's Roar Like Thunder is a great example of a band at the top of their game.
It's hard to choose favorites, I enjoyed listening to the entire album. But if you force my hand, I would recommend "Let It Burn", "Machine Gun" "Hello Goodbye", "I Go Boom"," Set It Free", "Blackout" "Talkin About Sex"," Come On"," When The Sun Goes Down" and "Roar Like Thunder". Oh, wait a minute, I just realized that's the entire album. LOL !!
If you have ever had the opportunity to sit down with an old friend, turning each other on to new music, while sharing a beverage and revisiting past glories, you know what it feels like to take in Buckcherry's new release Roar Like Thunder.
As always, if you like what I like, you should take a test drive with the latest from Buckcherry – Roar Like Thunder, available on CD, Album, Download or your favorite Streaming Device. Check out several videos available on You Tube.
Check out our concert images and more at http://www.stagedoorimages.com as well as the Stage Door Image Facebook Page
Bill Baker, owner and mastermind behind Stage Door Images, has had a camera in his hands since he discovered the joys of photography at the early age of 9. His business savvy and appreciation for customer service has developed through more than 40 years in the photography and the music business. After earning a degree in business administration, he entered the music field via retailing. Bill emerged as a leader in his field as manager and buyer for Leonard Smith Inc., out of Latham, NY. This led to stepping up as a sole proprietor, opening three of his own retail locations in Upstate NY. The Stage Door quickly reached a high plateau for their excellent customer service and the ability to find hard to locate albums, CDs and videos. While involved in the music business, Bill began making contacts in the concert arenas throughout New York State and Southern Canada. He has photographed over 400 performances including Shinedown, Godsmack, Black Top Mojo, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Lady A, Tommy Castro, Coco Montoya and Joe Satriani just to name a few. The opportunity provided Bill a unique perspective, developing into appreciation of photographing images under extreme conditions. This led to capturing amazing images of extreme sports including World Cup Snowboarding, Downhill Competition, PBR Bull Riding, Mixed Martial Arts and Motocross events including the international superstars of the Nitro Circus. Bill is a photographer, a photojournalist as well as an author. He has images and published works in the Black River Review, Watertown Daily Times, The Jefferson County Journal, Fourth Coast Entertainment and The Up-North Entertainment Magazines, where he writes a monthly music column.
