Dirty Rhythm
Hard As A Rock

The last time, I talked about classic metal and, while revisiting the genre and the CD shelves I keep (quite a challenge!), I noticed that I forgot to mention this excellent chapter from the American band Dirty Rhythm, a band unknown to many but the author of this truly remarkable sole album.

Released in 1991 (for me, the early '90s were the best years for hard rock, too bad only a few noticed!), "Hard As A Rock" is an album of rare beauty that, even today, would outshine any new melodic hard release. Captivating melodies, a competent singer (a certain Jeffrey Michael Bonds), excellent riffs (Brian Harrison, guitar), and a very solid rhythm section (Anthony Brian Greenham on bass and Troy Miller on drums): in short, as usual, talent never gets rewarded, let alone when it's offered by four unknowns trying to make their mark! 

So does it matter if "Feel The Fire", the opening track, is one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard with a fantastic chorus and melodic opening?

Little interest even when a Spanish-style intro opens the dreamy ballad "I Can't Wait" or when passion itself takes over in the other beautiful ballad "Hold On (Forever Tonight)"?

While we're at it, let's also ignore the snaps delivered with the Dokken-inspired "Backside Of Love", the Skid Row-style hard rock of "Waiting For The Money", or the Kiss-like "Burn Out The Night"?

And why not completely snub the freshness in composition, which reminded me of the great Heavens Edge, in the title track "Hard As A Rock" or the stunning hard rock performance shown in "One Summer Night"? And all this with the grand finale entrusted to the spirited "Bad Girls"? 

Resentment? Yes, quite a bit, because if Calimero were here, he would not only white out and say "It's an injustice," but he would break his little shell to kick all our asses. But it's also my fault, considering that I often wonder how many such bands have been circulating and how many I haven't yet heard! Being a music hermit, I still wander the world searching for my own personalized Nepal. In case you see me practicing yoga in record stores, it’s because I'm searching for other talented unknowns like Dirty Rhythm. 

Oh, by the way: even if "Blinded", "Hot N' Cold", and "Reach Out" are rather ordinary, this album is excellent in every aspect and quite varied.