Bastardogs-No Pain No Gain

Street Symphonies Records
2013

I'm not going to lie, but anytime a band's promo material starts off by mentioning Motörhead it's almost a guarantee that I'm going to like where things are heading! In the case of Bastardogs, a Genova-based four-piece band with at least one other recording (a demo) to their name, it's really more about sleaze but I can hear Lemmy's influences in just about every modern hard rock including this Italian act! With a line-up that includes (founders) Bonne (vocals & rhythm guitar),  Andy K. (lead guitar) and Atta (drums), as well as new (as of 2012 or so) bassist Cosme, Bastardogs draws their sound from "80's Sleaze style and from historical people of that period like Blackie Lawless and Nikki Sixx". Translated that means you've got the obvious, both Mötley Crüe (up to and including 1987's "Girls, Girls, Girls" minus any ballads!) and W.A.S.P., and the not-so- obvious (Skid Row, Alice Cooper, Sister, Warthchild, mid-eighties solo Ozzy, L.A. Guns, Zodiac Mindwarp, "Turbo"/"Ram It Down"-era Judas Priest and even Kiss) as well as the aforementioned mention Motörhead. Add to that a little 80's metal (as interpreted by the skillful guitar playing of Andy K.) and you've got one act who have the whole eighties vibe down pat without sounding too retro for their own good! Songs like "Sex Machine" and "Drinkin' My Brain Off", as well as demo-leftovers "Bad Dog" and "The Pit", are obviously all in good fun as this is one band that comes across as having just that in mind, having fun! That's not to say that Bastardogs are too one-dimensional  in their way of thinking. For example one need only check out the track "Edge Of Youth". Here the band remembers those who didn't make it like Crashdïet's Dave Lepard. It shows a different side to a band that also has cuts entitled "Bite You Down" and "Zombietown"! Other then maybe the vocals, which are fine as far as the actual singing is concerned (it is just that they are just buried too far down in the mix!), there isn't a whole lot not to appreciate about "No Pain No Gain". As far as debut-albums go it's a steady rocker filled with catchy material, plenty of melody and some really cool guitar solos! It has a little bit of a punk attitude and carries itself as if it's trying to be equal parts Motörhead and Ratt. And, as stated, it's fun. Simply put "No Pain No Gain" is a fun record harkening back to a simpler time when it wasn't all that usually to see band's treading water between sleazy hard rock and traditional heavy metal. For fans of Mötley Crüe this one might be a bit too guitar-driven, but regardless it's worth checking out. And that goes for folks who enjoy eighties bands like L.A. Guns, W.A.S.P., Zodiac Minwarp and the Love Connection and yes, even Motörhead! Find out more about these Italian rock and roller's right here: https://www.facebook.com/BastardogsGE