Label: Pure Steel Publishing / Blind Rope Records
Date: July 9th, 2021
Do not make the same mistake I did and misunderstand the title of this record. Blind Petition turned thirty years old a long time ago. As a matter of fact, in a couple of years they will turn fifty. The title above puts focus on the last thirty years of the band, since 1991. The rest is easily discernible. This is a collection of rarities and outtakes, just as advertised.
What that means exactly, remains a mystery to me. My promotional copy of this CD contains no in depth liner notes, recording dates or further explanations regarding this release. Kind of disappointing but considering the reputation behind the labels I guess the full release will come with much more.
Anyway, what’s most important here is the music and it is quite cool if you ask me. A full hour of classical, traditional hard rocking magic. Standardized by all possible measures, but enjoyable nonetheless. I mean, what’s the most important thing to possess if you want your hard rock to be successful? Catchy choruses, melodic lead guitars, firm rhythm section that goes absolutely nowhere but straight ahead and a convincing vocalist.
Now, on that last part, Blind Petition could certainly do better. Perhaps it’s all due to the somewhat weak production work, but the voice falls short of the objective. By the way, the production varies substantially which is natural when you’re covering a variety of recording sessions and years in which they took place.
However, in all other aspects I’ve numbered above, Blind Petition succeeded. The full fifteen songs here are keeping the tension of the listener on a high level. The tracks are of normal length, not allowing for unnecessary wandering about. They have a goal and take you there down the straightest possible road. On a loud motorcycle. With a young blonde in the back. Safety helmets? Hell no!
Within these thirty years, and more prior to them, Blind Petition has obviously picked up a bunch of influences which all show up here and there. Rooted in the hard rocking scene, you can clearly hear Foreigner, Kiss, Scorpions, Whitesnake, Rainbow, AC/DC… Plus a bit of sleaze, melodic heavy metal, southern rock, the whole lot of them. Combined in a supercharged live machine (I’m sure), guarantee a good time.
If you’re a fan of all of the above, you tend not to be too picky with you choices in music. Which, in the end, means you just cannot go wrong with these Austrians. Go and get it. And don’t miss out on their live show. When the live shows become a thing again, of course.
