DIRTY PASSION — Different Tomorrow (review)

DIRTY PASSION — Different Tomorrow album cover

Album · 2010 · Hard Rock

3/5 · 2011-05-01
Windhawk

Swedish quartet DIRTY PASSION was formed back in 2006, and since then they have been an active quantity in the local and European live scene, steadily building themselves a fan base. Come 2010 and they decided it was time to record and release their debut album, apparently at least partially due to request from their fans. The end result became the 10 track disc "Different Tomorrow", which was issued by Transubstans Records imprint Denomination Records in December 2010.

Pop metal, hair metal, glam metal, AOR, melodic hard rock. Beloved children have many names it's said, and these five different monikers describing music sharing many similarities but with subtle differences avid fans of them will readily point out can all be used to describe the stylistic approach pursued by Dirty Passion.

Short to midpaced songs sporting melodic guitar riffs as the main feature is the dominating instrumental aspect of this production, backed by steady beats and with the main limelight shining on the lead vocalist. The songs are rather straight forwards affairs, no fluff and staying well away from any artsy sidetracks. Good, old fashioned hard rock in other words, but with the customary vocal harmonies and more often than not the trademark singalong chorus parts we heard by the thousands when metal had it's commercial heyday back in the 80's and early 90's.

It's a type of music where it's difficult to make a grand impact. The musical palette is limited, and extensively explored by everybody, their brother, sister, uncles, parents and (in some cases) grandparents too. Crafting less than impressive results with this type of music is much easier than crafting any material of note, and with that in mind I find this debut effort from Dirty Passion to be a pleasant production. The only piece that makes something of an impact for me is A Trip to Paradise however, featuring nifty contrasting guitar motifs in the verse parts, a clever percussion insert and sporting an energetic pace increase in the instrument solo passage at the midway point. Subtle variations to the sound and approach that makes this track stand out from the rest here. The other songs at hand are pleasant enough too, but more as good examples of the genre to be enjoyed by avid fans to a much greater extent than songs that will have an impact beyond the reach of their and their genres fanbase in my opinion. A thumbs up to the chorus on We're All Gonna Fall is also worth mentioning. The slight dramatic effects on this track doesn't quite work but the delightful guitar motif chosen for the chorus on this creation is a pure delight to listen to. Again, again and again.

Dirty Passion have chosen a tough field to be active in, and from what I can gather from their initial disc they have a lot going for them. Most likely an act better to experience live than on CD I suspect, but for fans of 80's melodic hard rock of the guitar and vocals driven kind this should be a pleasant acquaintance. For those keen on references I presume Dokken is as good a name to toss out as anything - if you like them you'll most likely enjoy the tunes of Dirty Passion too.