Julian Angel's Beautiful Beast
Kick Down the Barricades

They are rocking like in 1989 if we are to believe the website, they don’t do anything in terms of modernity and they are proud of it. “The sound, the style, the same old stories - you have heard it all before and you will hear it again. Julian Angel and Beautiful Beast don’t reinvent the wheel. They simply keep it turning when others have run out of gasoline” I don’t know why all of these words makes me feel a bit dizzy, is it vertigo perhaps? I find it strange that those involved in a creative business like music can be proud to copy others. I think finding an own fresh voice should be the mission rather than doing what others have already done lots of times. In 1989 the generic hair metal/glam/sleaze or whatever you want to call it was at its peak with dull unsexy bands, is that what these guys want to do?

Think of any generic band of the genres I just said, Mötley Crüe, Posion are names that might help you think. That is how these guys sound, it feels like I have heard it all before, like a remake of an old film. Imagination is not a word I would use in the same sentence as this album’s name. The album is also the generic just over 40 minutes long and has ten tracks, not much variation. In many way you need to be some analyst to see the point in this album from the musical perspective, it offers nothing we haven’t heard before and that is something I am always a bit doubtful towards. Nothing modern in the production either but the album has a good groove and energy.

Overall it is a good album, the songs are catchy and with good energy. I am not very impressed by the creativity but I cannot deny that they still are a good listen which is why I award them a mid rating despite the fact that in many ways they stand for something I really hate, I hate people living in the past dreaming of getting things back to how they were rather than making the best of today. The past is the past, let it stay the past. Why copy others? in many regards these guys are like a cover band but with one big difference, the cover band are not trying to put their own label on anything just entertain on a stage. These guys copy others and write their own lyrics. I knew all songs from the first time I heard them, this predictable is this album.

So, for you who wants to imagine that it was a time that has long gone and that wasn’t as good as you all imagine, especially the music is a lot better today than it was back then. I would also not be surprised if all the songs on this album are plagiarised from other bands with new lyrics and tiny changes. So, a time machine back to 1989, so if you miss this time of generic rock music with sleazy hair, this is the album for you. I like it but I’ll pass.

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