I reckon I’m not alone in going “who?” when the name Michael Grant comes up. Apparently Grant was once a member of one of the L.A. Guns constellations that has been touring parallel to each other a few years now – he also recorded one album with them. Grant was also the driving force behind Endeverafter, an alternative Hard Rock band from San Fransisco. His work with his new outfit The Assassins started back in 2018 but even though this project has a band-name, this is very much a solo project as Grant plays all the instruments himself on this, The Assassins debut album, except for a few tracks where Shane Fitzgibbon provided drums. Sound-wise, this is supposed to be a sleazy, punky and heavy yet melodic effort with an organic sound and a big live-feel.
The album kicks off with “Barrel Of A Gun”, a kicking, raw and raunchy rocker – very rough, gritty and in-your face. The tune comes across as a sleazy take on 80’s Hard Rock. Originally written back in the days of Endeverafter but never released, it’s a cocky and intense groover, with lots of attitude, memorable hooks and a striking chorus. Yeah, I quite like this. The title-track is the next one up and this one’s a kicking, punchy and aggressive ass-kicker, very much in-your-face but also with a darker edge and sullen even. It’s a gritty hard-rocker albeit with an alternative touch and even though I can appreciate the energy, the song fades too fast from my memory. Not bad but really nothing special either.
On a much darker note, “Killing Me Slowly” is slow, heavy and even laid-back on a steady beat and a solid rhythm – the atmosphere in the verses are quite brooding. The refrain is heavier and holds some crunchy riffing with a pop-laden melody on top which makes for a clear contrast to the Metal edge of the tune. It’s a good song while listening but this too tends to leave my memory a bit too fast. Things gets even darker when the ballad and latest single “Nightmares” shows up. The verses comes on with an U2 meets Slang era Def Leppard outlook while the catchy chorus takes a more crunchy turn. The tune also holds an ominous and slightly symphonic piano and a poppy beat. The solo part takes a heavier approach with a crispy guitar sound which gives the tune some solid dynamics. A very good tune and the best one so far.
Leading single “Red Light Run” starts out with a gritty and sleazy guitar-riff but continues as a crunchy Melodic Rock stomper with dark-laden pop vibes and an alternative twang. There are guitar-lines in here that holds a resemblance to Def Leppard while the pop-twists makes for an uplifting, feel-good outlook and the chorus is catchiness deluxe and sticks right away – very good. “Anthem Of Us” is upbeat sleaze-pop with indie vibes and a darker ambience. It’s a bang-on-target, straight ahead rocker with a chunky groove and a memorable main-melody. That being said, the chorus could/should have been stronger as it never lifts the way the verses kinda promised it would. Still, a pretty good track. “Break Me With U” is an alternative sounding yet clearly Hard Rock driven groover that holds a floating and flowing rhythm and an almost dreamy soundscape. It’s quite laid-back yet not soft and the accessible harmonies makes for a catchy albeit not radio-friendly chorus. As a whole, I find the song decent but it just doesn’t leave a lasting impression with me.
“Death Of Me” is a slow and heavy rocker more in the tradition of classic Hard Rock with an accompanying, solid headbang, fist-in-the-air kind of beat. It’s ballsy, holds a massive riff, it’s edgy yet melodic in an early 90’s sleaze-rock way. The immediate refrain is a heavier take on Buckcherry meets L.A. Guns. I quite dig this one. “Runaway (Can You Stand The Rain)” is a bang-on-target, uptempo, straight-forward 90’s rocker with poppy melodies and a punky vibe that goes straight for the jugular with the intent of a K.O before you even knew what was coming. Again, it’s not a bad tune but not spectacular either – it’ll probably work like charm live, though.
“Gimme Salvation” continues the uptempo, upbeat pace. It’s a slammin’ 90’s alt-rocker on a straight forward note – with a kicking groove. It’s punchy and gritty and edgy but at the same time, it feels both unstructured and noisy and it loses me along the way, like the song just don’t know where it’s heading. For me, this is a total filler and goes nowhere. The album closes with “Secrets”, a song that starts out with ballad verses, soft-ish and quite smooth on a nod towards the late 80’s Melodic Rock. It gets a bit faster and crunchier when the chorus shows up, and holds a chorus that’s crispy with some 90’s pop-touches that brings on some hooks with some hit-potential as a result. It’s an ok track but that one too fades a bit too fast from my memory for comfort.
Maybe it’s just me that don’t get it but this album is not for me. Sure, there are some good songs but for the most, the record just passed me by pretty much unnoticed and the songs just aren’t catchy and memorable enough for me. 90’s sounding alternative Hard Rock just isn’t my bag at all. But there are some positive things about it. I do enjoy the raw, stripped and no-fuss production and Grant is a really good player and a good singer with a distinct and personal voice – the guy is obviously talented. I dunno, maybe an outside producer and a real band behind the music could have done the trick. It’s not a bad album per se but I can’t see myself picking it up again any time soon.
4/10
Tracklist:
1. Barrel Of A Gun
2. Always The Villain
3. Killing Me Slowly
4. Nightmares
5. Red Light Run
6. Anthem Of Us
7. Break Me With U
8. Death Of Me
9. Runaway (Can You Stand The Rain)
10. Gimme Salvation
11. Secrets
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