Kev Rowland
Formed back in 1981, Mad Max released their debut album in 1982, with guitarist Jürgen Breforth having been there from the beginning. Singer Michael Voss joined the year afterwards, with drummer Axel Kruse taking over the hot seat in 1984. Only bassist Thomas "Hutch" Bauer is a newbie, having only joined in 2015, so the album title is a nod to their more than 35 years in the industry. This is hard rock/power metal with more than a nod to the likes of classic Dokken, and it is hard not to smile and get with the groove. Okay, so Voss’s voice cracks and breaks sometimes, but it just adds some emotion to what is an incredibly solid album.
It has the passion and energy that one would expect from guys half their age, and there is stacks of melody. The only thing that really lets it down is the quality of the songs, which while good are never anything more than that. The result is an album that is solid, enjoyable and dependable without ever being essential. But, for all that, it’s better than quite a lot of what I have been listening to recently.