CD Review: Both Mr. Big And Mark Slaughter Look To Capture Their Iconic Sound With New Albums

American rock band Mr. Big return with their 9th studio album "Defying Gravity." It will be released on July 7th through Frontiers Music, while the band is currently on the road promoting it. The album also reunited the band with producer Kevin Elson, who produced the band's first three albums during their early-nineties heyday.

 

The new 11-song release begins with the enforced guitar riff of "Open Your Eyes" as singer Eric Martin delivers his iconic vocals during the song's struttin' rhythm. The title song displays the strength of Matt Starr on the drums, grounding the music, while bassist Billy Sheehan delivers a deep bass groove on the southern rock flavor of "Everybody Needs A Little Trouble." Mr. Big switches gears for the acoustic-based country sound of "Damn, I'm In Love Again," before guitarist Paul Gilbert injects his energy into "Mean To Me." The band soars on the power ballad "Forever And Back" and then rock out loud on the intense blast of "1992." The album closes with the bluesy swing of "Be Kind" as the band jams on past the seven-minute mark.

 

Mr. Big are currently on tour in the U.S. until the end of June, before heading down to Brazil in August. For a complete list of dates and to find out more about their new album "Defying Gravity," please visit mrbigsite.com.

 

Mark Slaughter was the lead vocalist and guitarist for the hard rock band Slaughter, whose hits included "Up All Night" and "Fly To The Angels." While the band Slaughter have not released a new studio album in almost 20 years, Mark Slaughter has been continuing as a solo artist. He recently release his brand new studio album titled "Halfway There" on May 26, which still carries that classic hard rock sound.

 

The new 10-song release begins with the high-energy of "Hey You," which feels as if it came from one of Slaughter's early albums as Mark's vocals are strong and iconic on this opening track. The music continues chugging along with the metal riffs of "Devoted" and "Conspiracy," while the power ballad of "Halfway There" is guaranteed to bring out the lighters at any show. Mark stretches out his sound on the progressive metal appeal of "Reckless," before the emotions come pouring out during "Disposable" and "Not Here."

 

Mark Slaughter will be hitting the road this summer with his band Slaughter with shows scattered throughout July and August. For a complete list of shows and to find out more about his new solo album "Halfway There," please visit markslaughter.com.