ToxicRose’s In for the Kill might be the most falsely advertised album of the year. By the looks of their fire hazard hairdos, painted faces, and leather uniforms, you’d think they’d sound like a band clawing for fame on the Sunset Strip circa 1986. Sure there’s a Skid Row gang vocal here and a Mötley Crüe shuffle there, but by and large, ToxicRose falls more in line with the melodic heavy metal being cranked out of their native country of Sweden. You already know the type I’m talking about: AOR nuances, riffs bordering on power metal, and blatant overproduction. Yet due to their extravagant appearance, they’re frequently lumped into their native sleaze scene alongside Crashdïet, Hardcore Superstar, and Sister.
Each of these bands has their own unique identity. Crashdïet specializes in straightforward sleaze, arguably the finest to do so since Guns N’ Roses. Hardcore Superstar alternates between lighthearted hard rock and hostile heavy metal, both styles done with equal conviction. Sister’s utilization of frantic riffs and harsh vocals have made them the world’s premiere (and only) blackened glam metal band. As for ToxicRose, my initial takeaway of their latest album, In for the Kill, is that this is what Avenged Sevenfold would sound like if they fully embraced their 80s metal and hard rock leanings.
Perhaps it’s the slight similarity between ToxicRose’s “Outta Time” and A7X’s “Almost Easy”, but it’s a thought that lingered in my head throughout the course of this album. ToxicRose aren’t blatant 80s revivalists. The overblown euro power metal of “Heroes” and the repetitive chug-fest that is “Open Up ‘N’ Bleed” let us know that they are indeed a modern metal band in a modern metal world. That said, the 80s lie near and dear to their glammed out hearts, both in look and sound.
Tracks like “Blood on Blood”, “New Breed”, and “The Great Escape” fit comfortably into the glam metal niche, albeit with a slight new school twist. These dudes sure love their “woah oh oh’s” and layered vocals. The synth driven “Remedy” showcases the band’s AOR side, while “Domination” is a full fledged Scandi-headbanger akin to classic Pretty Maids. Frontman Andy Lipstixx (It doesn’t get more glam metal than that) even delivers his best Ronnie Atkins, gruff delivery and all. My choice cut is the 7+ minute “Angel Down”. This pseudo-ballad is arranged in the same manner as one of Ozzy Osbourne’s album cut epics (i.e. “Diary of a Madman”, “Waiting for Darkness”). A barrage of Jake E. Lee-esque riffs and solos from guitarist Tom Wouda only strengthens this observation.
I’d be lying if I said In for the Kill was the most memorable euro metal I’ve listened to this year. However, what it lacks in memorability it makes up for in enjoyability. Sometimes you just need to breathe, let your hair down, and have fun for 40 minutes. I thank ToxicRose for reminding me that, especially in today’s day and age of all work and no play. These boys are anything but dull.
6 out of 10
Label: Golden Robot Records
Genre: Melodic Heavy Metal
For fans of: Pretty Maids, Eclipse, Crowne