When I heard I was up for reviewing the new album from Kissin' Dynamite, I have to admit that I felt a little bewildered. The name of the band invoked visions of a blues based rock band more in the vain of say AC/DC.  So expecting a band more in the style of Airbourne or Bonafide for example it was only when I saw the glorious title 'Addicted To Metal' that I realised I was about to take a far more Whistance approved journey.

When you first pick up a copy of 'Addicted To Metal' you can't help wondering whether or not it's actually a parody of the heavy metal scene, with its Tap-like album artwork featuring the band running across a red hot anvil desperately trying to avoid a mighty hammer that is about to fall. Coupled with such gloriously over the top song titles as 'In The Name Of The Iron Fist' and Metal Nation', you have to stop and remember exactly what it was you first loved about the scene as a prepubescent teenager....and then you get it.

Okay the scene at times has more than a fair amount of cheese on offer, and to anybody outside of the genre who loves to "mock the metal" will never quite understand the tongue in cheek nature of the culture. But the diehard loyalty and dedication of heavy metal fans across the globe is why we must crank up the stereo and indulge ourselves in the music of Kissin' Dynamite, as they celebrate everything that is over the top about the genre

From the information I gathered on Kissin' Dynamite I understood that the band were influenced by the likes of Motley Crue and Whitesnake, but on listening to 'Addicted To Metal' I would say the likes of Judas Priest, The Scorpions and Accept played a huge part in the band's existence. Which brings me conveniently to the former Accept vocalist Udo Dirkschneider who guests on the wonderful metal extravaganza that is the album's title track.  At first I just assumed that the band being fans of his work had simply contacted Udo expressing their desire to work with him, hence the collaboration. I have however since discovered that it was actually Udo as a fan of Kissin' Dynamite (he had witnessed the band live, offering them the support slot on his 2009 solo tour) who made the collaboration happen. The collaboration being the result of Udo visiting the recording studio whilst the band were in session, so it goes without saying that if the band get their blessing from such a highly acclaimed metal vocalist as Udo then surely my review isn't really going to mean a damn.

I cannot write this review without mentioning the fantastic vocals of lead singer Hannes, proving there must be something in the water in Germany as they continue to produce such wonderful heavy metal vocalists. Being not too familiar with the works of Damn Yankees I cannot comment on the band's cover of the song 'High Enough', only to say that I did read that the original number was more ballad orientated song so, with that in mind, I'm sure Kissin' Dynamite's version is a vast improvement.

This album is a great heavy metal album, proving that along with bands such as Wolf and Dream Evil, Europe is producing young bands still willing to fly the flag of traditional heavy metal whilst, in the UK, we appear to be quickly losing the genre that we ultimately created. And with songs such as 'Assasins Of Love', 'Supersonic Killer' and 'Love Me, Hate Me' it's pretty safe to say that the band are here to keep the heavy metal party alive.

http://www.myspace.com/kissindynamiterocks