ALBUM REVIEW ~ KICKIN' VALENTINA ~ 'STAR SPANGLED FIST FIGHT'

I'm music magazine, kickin valentina, star spangled fist fight, d.k. revelle, rock, gettin off, jetboy, andy reilly,

Kickin Valentina have released their fourth full-length album titled Star Spangled Fist Fight. And when the record company describes the songs as, “catchy choruses, indecently strong riffs and a sexy rhythm groove that’s almost pornographic,” who’s not going to give it a listen?

Definitely an unholy mix of sleazy hard rock with hints of heavy metal and maybe even a dash of punk, it’s easy to understand why these boys have rocked out with the likes of Skid Row, Doro, Queensrÿche and Buckcherry.

“Gettin Off” is the lead track and for a minute there, I thought I was listening to a young Gene Simmons on vocals. It’s actually former Jetboy singer, D.K. Revelle, with Heber Pampillon on guitar, Chris Taylor on bass and Jimmy Berdine on drums.

Next up is “Dirty Rhythm” and “Fire Back.” Both rebellious, sing along songs, this is as straight forward and angry as rock and roll gets. Revelle sings, “stick your middle finger right in the air,” just to drive the point home.

The in-your-face rudeness continues with “Turn Me Loose” and “Died Laughing.” Exactly what are these Atlanta-based rockers so mad about anyway?

Bassist Chris Taylor shares, “It’s been way too long since our last album and we are really excited about Star Spangled Fist Fight. I know every band says this, but I think this is our best album so far. Everything just seemed to click while we were writing it.”

Produced by Andy Reilly (UFO, Bruce Dickinson, Cradle of Filth) at Muse Productions in Atlanta, and mastered by Joel Wanasek, this is sonically one of the better albums I’ve heard in quite some time.

The title track closes this one out and may be the best of the bunch – and not just because it features a killer cowbell. You’ll definitely want to play this one LOUD!

Bottom line, if anyone tells you that rock is dead and there aren’t any bands making good new music anymore, point them directly to Kickin Valentina to end that conversation on the spot.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski