RR Score: 9.5 ROCK FISTS!

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Intro

Sixx:AM really put themselves on the map with their 2007 debut 'The Heroin Diaries'. Unfortunately that song was such a classic that the band have struggled matching the quality since. Not that the following albums were bad in any way, they just didn't quite live up to the heights the debut provided. Their last album 'Modern Vintage' in particular leaned more towards a pop sound than it's predecessors, and I feel was less memorable because of it. So with Nikki Sixx now finished with Motley Crue, the band can finally place this band as a priority for all 3 of James Michael, DJ Ashba and Sixx. And the band have been busy! With 2 albums planned for release this year, 'Prayers for the Damned Vol. 1' is the first taste fans get of the new material. With so many double albums, or double releases spreading themselves thin with quality material, I'm excited yet apprehensive about what these 11 tracks will provide.

Review

'Rise! Get yourself together. Rise! Stand up and live your life. Rise! Get yourself together. Rise! Hands up, hands up high'. The opening song 'Rise' opens the album in a blaze of glory with a song that belongs in full stadiums! DJ Ashba is all over this song too with a scorching solo and a riff that takes the song to the place where the 80s hard rock and the 2016 modern rock song meet. Great opening track! 'You Have Come to the Right Place' starts with a heavy riff that was so missing on their last album. This is another cracking rock song with lyrics that have Nikki Sixx all over them - 'If you're the last on earth, feel like you're damned or cursed, you have come to the right place. If you have lost yourself, you can escape the hell, you have come to the right place'. I can see both these opening tracks becoming favourites in the bands live shows. 'I'm Sick' opens with yet another heavy crunchy riff. In fact, DJ Asba is all over this record. There are solo's and riffs galore on pretty much every song which gives it a real old school rock feel to the album. This track floats along in the verses but the chorus is an absolute monster with gang vocals screaming 'I'm sick give me some more' over some more heavy driving guitar from Ashba.

'Prayers For The Damned' is the first track that opens with a more melodic guitar sound. The feel of this song is very similar to the debut album, with a melodic yet melancholic sound. The chorus is more restrained than the first three tracks, yet is every bit as strong with Michael really showing how good a vocalist he is. 'Better Man' is the first and really only true ballad on the album and it is yet another great song. Sixx:AM have proven in the past(especially on the debut) that they can produce a great ballad, and this is no exception. I can see this all over rock radio. This is a really cool song and comes at the perfect time on the album to slow the pace down. 'Can't Stop' brings back the heavy though and has a real groove to it. Gang vocals are again prevalent singing 'You can't stop, you cannot stop me'! I really like the song, however If I was forced to pick a song that was my least favourite, it would probably be this one, but it is by no means a bad song. If I was forced to pick a favourite track though, it would be the next song 'When We Were Gods'. It has everything I love in a Sixx:AM song. A melancholic start that gradually leads into an epic rock song including a heavy and catchy chorus - 'When we were gods, when we were demons. We had it all, we had our reasons. We danced through the victories, we lived through the scars, I counted blessings while you counted stars, we had it all, yeah we had it all, when we were gods'! You can't help but think of Nikki Sixx and Motley Crue when you hear these lyrics. Cracking song that is among the best these guys have ever written.

'Belly of the Beast' continues the high quality. This is a modern rock monster with a more groove oriented feel. This feels like an angry song and is probably not the heaviest track on the album in sound, but is in feel. 'Everything Went to Hell' has the best riff on the album by far. A huge riff that DJ Ashba absolutely nails. Another heavy track with James Michael really providing an angry vocal performance which takes the song into a dark and heavy place along with the lyrics. This is a cracking song and one of the highlights on a really quality album. 'The Last Time(My Heart Will Hit The Ground)' shows a more melodic side to Sixx:AM which they have previously showcased so wonderfully on songs like 'Life Is Beautiful' and 'Stars', and this track reaches those heights. The final track 'Rise of the Melancholy Empire' is something totally different to anything else on the album. It is as the title suggests a melancholic song that builds into a call to arms rock song - 'Through all this suffering, this fault turns into enter, we will be back again, and grown in newfound numbers, may god be cruel to you, may he rain his hand upon you' show how heavy this song is. What a great way to finish the album with an epic track that has a bit of everything we love about rock. The album closes with a gang vocal yelling 'We will not be damned' over and over until fade out. I cannot wait until Volume 2...

Outro

This album is heavier, yet more melodic and is all round much better than the bands last effort 'Modern Vintage'. I would argue that this is on par with the bands classic debut album. It is that good! Every song is a winner. There are uplifting tracks, melancholic moments, kick ass rock songs and a sound of a band who have put every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears into the making of each track. In fact, you could probably ask 11 different Sixx:AM fans which song is their favourite, and you will most likely get 11 different answers. If Volume 2 is anywhere near as good, Sixx:AM just might have produced my new favourite double album of all time (yes I know it won't officially be a double album, but all the songs were written at the same time, just released on separate dates). I cannot see any fan of the band not liking this album. There really is something for everyone. Congrats to the band on releasing an album that will rate very high on my albums of the year list! Buy it now!!