It may come as a bit of a shock to you all, but for this reviewer at least the fact that 'Bitten By The Beast' features the last recorded vocals from Ronnie James Dio isn't in fact the most exciting aspect of the album. Nope.... you wanna know why? Well, it's because this is the first solo album from The Rods singer/guitarist David "Rock" Feinstein and I fucking love The Rods.

OK so it's open for debate how many of you out there in Uber Rock world will actually remember The Rods? Have heard their glorious self-titled album? Attended their hugely successful support tour with Iron Maiden back in '82? Or wept openly during their later years when their ill-fated 'Hell On Earth' UK jaunt with Metallica and Exciter was cancelled? But I certainly remember all of these like it was yesterday.  What I didn't realise until I received my copy of 'Bitten By The Beast' though was that Feinstein's 'Third Wish' aside (which I admit I never bought) it has been twenty five years since I actually purchased an album connected with The Rods.  So the question I guess is how will David's brand of no frills Rock 'n' Roll stand up to the test of a quarter of a century of musical trend setting?

Placing the CD in the player the lead riff to the opening track 'Smoke On The Horizon' is the almost perfect response to that million-dollar question, as it is a quasi-Wildhearts type crescendo that immediately made me wonder if I'd actually put on the right album.  This riff however quickly turns itself into a sort of Judas Priest type chugger albeit with a classy Feinstein guitar make over that also sees David spit out his vocals in a style perhaps an octave or two lower than what I would call classic "Rock".  'Evil In Me' follows quickly and is very much in the same mould as the opener, with an added sneaky little Maiden mid section thrown in for good measure.  One thing's for sure and that is this opening brace are certainly a lot heavier than I initially expected.  But, hold on just a minute, before you start thinking this is an album of just one Heavy Metal dimension, as the first nod to The Rods is soon blasting out of my speakers in the shape of the anthemic 'Break Down The Walls, which sounds like it could have been an outtake from the band's 'Wild Dogs' period with its subtle use of Feinstein's guitar overlaying the songs chorus, recalling what I always liked to call "New York's Motorhead" at their very best.

From there on in "Rock's" musical stall is pretty much set between these two camps of tracks with 'Rock's Boogie' and 'Gambler Gambler' recalling the feelgood Rock 'n' Roll of primetime Rods (with a dash of Ace Frehley in the case of the latter), whilst 'Give Me Mercy' bridges the gap between Rock's day job and the more Heavy Metal elements of his solo sound like on the Twisted Sister chant along of 'Run For Your Life' and the majestic Dio-esque riffage of 'Kill The Demon'

This rather conveniently brings us to the track most Heavy Metal fans will be longing to hear, the Ronnie James Dio sung  'Metal Will Never Die'.  This track also features all the members of the classic Rods line up with Carl Canedy on drums and Garry Bordonaro on bass (they are recording a new Rods album ready for 2011 apparently), and its probably best described as a "fitting tribute" rather than an "out and out classic".  Perhaps I'm being a bit too picky but then as I've said previously I'm more interested in what "Rock" is up to on 'Bitten By The Beast' than to get to wound up about just one track, even if it does feature Ronnie James Dio's last recorded vocal.

Overall then 'Bitten By The Beast' is nine tracks of solid Rock 'N' Roll with a slightly heavier approach than some fans might expect.  Will 'Bitten By The Beast' sell millions of copies? Will David "Rock" Feinstein get to play Madison Square Garden off the back of it?  Probably not.  But most of us ("Rock" included I'm guessing) will just be happy just to have a legend back in our lives and making some great music. 

http://www.bittenbythebeast.com/

To celebrate the releases of 'Bitten By The Beast', Über Röck has two copies of the album (courtesy of The Publicity Connection) to give away to two lucky readers! If you want to be in with a chance of winning one of these CD's then all you have to do is answer the following question, sending your answer, name and address in an email headed 'Rock Comp' to mail@uberrock.co.uk  with all entries to reach us by midnight on Monday November 29th. 2010 

Here goes;

The Rods toured the UK back in the early Eighties with a world famous UK Heavy Metal band on their 'Beast On The Road' tour.  Name that band....

Usual terms and conditions apply. Winners will be notified by email. Good luck