Santa Cruz
Screaming for Adrenaline

A new day, a new record. Today this means that the finnish quartet Santa Cruz is under my microscope being closely scrutinised by my critical eye. I have run this album in my car for many times now and it is time to write down my views and change the CD in the car stereo. This album called Screaming for Adrenaline is the debut album of the finns and from the look on the backside of the album these guys look a bit sleazy, almost like they are stuck in time back in 1988.

And it is sleazy in sound as well, dirty hardkicking rock ‘n’ roll with tonnes of energy. Mostly fast paced, the vocalist has the screamy shouty voice, but in a good way in difference to for instance Guns ‘n’ Roses who’s vocalist sounds like shit. I think however that they are inspired by said band and probably also by bands like Skid Row. It is not particularly unique but very well made. They do not offer anything we haven’t heard before but of the new bands in the genre they are definitively among the best at producing well sounding stuff.

It is a quality album that I really like, it is enjoyable to listen to while driving but also just when listening to it. All the songs are good, the album has a lot of energy which is just what this kind of music should be all about. This singer is great, the band has this great raw energy and makes emotional rock ‘n’ roll at this highest level. I think that this is a great album and well worth recommending to those who you who still thinks it should be 25 years ago and rock ‘n’ roll should be a bit dirtier than the polished stuff we have today. This doesn’t mean this sounds dated, just a bit more spontaneous and more like rock music should sound, in my opinion that is.

I really find this album quite enjoyable, best of all the tracks are three: the opening title track is strong and powerful and a great tonesetter, the tenth track Aiming High is a highlight with lots of energy and power. My favourite is the fifth track Nothing Compares to You which is a song with great catchy chorus and excellent feeling. These are of course not towering like mountain peaks above the rest of the album but they are three reasons to want to play the album which is something any album like this has to have in order to really work. If you like sleazy stuff like Skid Row or other things similar to that then you’ll most certainly like this as well, I think there is no reason for anyone not to like this album because it is excellent. I would conclude that there is absolutely no reason not to check this band out.

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