KORITNI - review added 3rd June 2009
Album Review: Game Of Fools (2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and snatches (of different genres)
Koritni is a group you may not have heard before but possibly should have. They were formed by the singer of the defunct Green Dollar Colour, an Australian/French outfit with one album on their C.V.. The freshly monikered quintet may have a name like an anagram, but don't let that deceive you. This album seems to have had plenty of money lavished on it and that always suggests confidence in a good product.
Game Of Fools was mixed by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith) and Dan Leffler, and the cover artwork was designed by Mark Wilkinson, known for his work with Marillion and Iron Maiden. The band have already toured with The Scorpions and, since their conception in 2006. have one other album 'Lady Luck' under their belts.
The band is led by Lex Koritni (vocals), and features Eddy Santacreu (guitars), Luke Cuerden (guitars), Chris Brown (drums) and D.Matt Hunter (bass). The sound is a mix of Southern metal, balls-out party music and classic rock.
The first thing you notice is the quality of Lex's vocal performance. He has a loose but controlled sound and tends to frolic with his voice like a newborn lemming. He sounds nothing like Robert Plant... but the way he flirts with notes rather than simply singing them is from a similar school of thought. Some of his Celine Dion-esque warbling is an acquired taste, but Lex's overall appeal is more hit than sh*t.
'Stab In The Back' is a refreshingly upbeat song, especially when you consider the title. The chorus is a catchy little number and some of the guitar work is fantastic. 'V8 Fantasy' does what it says on the tin... big time. It may not be up there with 'Rev On The Red Line' by Foreigner but it drives a similar road. Lyrics like 'Drop the clutch and ride with me, A small block V8 fantasy' may be clichéd but they're superb. The song has an awesome summer vibe and would be great with the windows wound down and the black-top streaming behind you. The fact it works well in a hot stuffy study is merely a bonus.
'You Vs Me' is an urgent ballad with more than a hint of Reef about it. It's (along with Tornado Dreaming) the best track on the album and has an mind-openingly vintage chorus, great faux-heavy riffage and a sublime overall feel. If the whole album had been this good Koritni would have been propelled to the top of the Rock Realms tower of brilliance, or at least they would if such a thing existed.
'Nobody's Home' has a pub vibe you could pour in a pint glass and serve on a Friday evening. It's a speedy track with hints of Thunder, Status Quo and AC/DC wrapped in tinsel and balloons. There's a party atmosphere to the track that's unquenchable. I dare you not to stand up and dance to this track, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. 'Tornado Dreaming' starts off as it means to go on - it has a chilled yet forceful sound with a times-gone-by feel in the musicianship and lyrics. The build-up to the chorus is cleverly orchestrated and the broken rhythms at the climax are massively memorable.
Koritni have a great sound and a bunch of brilliant songs on this release. The sound doesn't vary much throughout and the album is comprehensively dominated by Lex's voice, but the quality really shines through. Although fans of standard-sounding hard rock won't necessarily 'get' the album, it really is one of those releases that's worth a listen because it has the power to strike a chord with just about anyone. Buy it for 'You Vs Me' and 'Tornado Dreaming' if nothing else.
Check out... Lex's voice. You might rate him as the best singer ever, you might hate him... whatever, he's definitely got something!.
Track List:
1. 155
2. Stab In The Back
3. Roll The Dice
4. V8 Fantasy
5. YOU VS ME
6. By My Side
7. Deranged
8. Nobody's Home
9. Game Of Fools
10. Keep Me Breathing
11. Tornado Dreaming
12. Tornado Dreaming II
13. The Devil's Daughter
Label: Bad Reputation Records
Artist's websites: Koritni , MySpace
