Please judge this album by its cover: a neon sign, palms, a Caribbean sunset: BIG RED FIRE TRUCK’s new recording “Trouble In Paradise” is pure feel-good rock music. And the music is melodic hard rock with 1989 sound. If still not convinced, check out some song titles: ‘Hot Summer Nights’, ‘Miami Skies’, ‘Neon Sunsets’… this one scream ’80s from every corner.
This is our first contact with BIG RED FIRE TRUCK – whom hail from Australia but sound 100% American – but the band already released a self-titled EP some time ago – so good that we added it as extra.
There is no Trouble in Paradise for BIG RED FIRE TRUCK… the boys show they are here for a good time that’s filled with 80s nostalgia, slick chords, wailing vocals, synth fills and driving drums. ”Trouble In Paradise” is a helluva good time melodic hard rock collection of songs, produced with a crisp polished sound.
Subscribing to an ‘all killer/no filler’ outing, this should align well with those who love the work of Reckless Love, Kissin’ Dynamite, Sammy Hagar-period Van Halen, as well as the good time spirit of Night Ranger.
BIG RED FIRE TRUCK is impressive to those who love classic melodic hard rock, especially if you want 80s-era songwriting translated to a modern audience.
Started in 2016 by vocalist/guitarist Digby to create some melodic hard rock/metal with fun as the focus, Big Red Fire Truck from Sydney channel a lot of the huge melodies, hooks, and harmonies of the 80s scene while incorporating a lot of the charm of the new generation of acts from Europe / Scandinavia.
These guys music embrace a time when people let their hair down, alcohol flowing freely to celebrate the down time away from work as they collectively raised fists (and voices) to the sky.
The four-piece lays down a potent musical foundation building things out with dual guitar harmony licks or larger than life vocal chorus action while the bass/drum work holds down a serious groove at mid-tempo or slightly faster pacing.
You can feel the searing heat melting the aural landscape during “Miami Skies”, the guitar action between Ben Frank and Digby as infectious as the uplifting main vocal melodies while drummer Pete Grant accents the key components with some propulsive, swinging cymbal hits and fills.
The title track contains some killer riffs out of the early Van Halen meets Judas Priest mold, while solid dual harmony activities give way to some tender verses for “Hot Summer Nights” (with some Poison on it), the soothing background vocals sure to encourage audience engagement when this band hits the stage.
Then “Love Bite” is the epitome of American sleazy rock. It’s groovy, gritty, flamboyant, and fun. Beyond the main songs, you get a synthwave intro for “Neon Sunsets” that will remind most of those Stranger Things / movie soundtrack days.
Digby has a ready for radio voice – sure to emphasize those big chorus moments when he needs to rise to that occasion, reminding this scribe of classic Night Ranger or Eclipse on highlight “Psychotropic Thunder”. This is a monster rocker that feels like a wonderful blend of bands like Bon Jovi circa 7800° Fahrenheit with a little bit of Judas Priest thrown in for good measure. The guitars absolutely soar and wail with slick chords and a crushing beat.
Digby says; “We’re making this music because there’s not enough of this style in the mainstream and I miss bands like Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith releasing new music. I miss having fun heavy rock music to listen to. We want to keep that alive while ripping off your car speakers.
They do. Believe us.
You’ve seen it first at plotn08.org
Trouble In Paradise (2023):
01 – Neon Sunsets
02 – Trouble In Paradise
03 – Love Bite
04 – Psychotropic Thunder
05 – Miami Skies
06 – Hot Summer Nights
MP3 FLAC
BIG RED FIRE TRUCK – Trouble In Paradise (2023), MP3+FLAC
 |
