You should never assume a certain genre of music belongs to a certain age. The so-called “eighties hair metal” is very much rocking and up-to-date nowadays, at least when it comes down to CrashDïet.

The band has matured in these last couple of years, sounding harder and somewhat more consistent, yet without ever losing its rebellious sleaze grip. There’s also a bigger concern for details, little touches that turn the songs richer but keep them in the straightforward rock path.

For instance, the first single, “Cocaine Cowboys”. As the title itself reveals, it’s a song about that particular addiction, the masters and slaves of it. And as they chose to call the dealers by “cowboys”, the intro is the main riff of the song played in an acoustic guitar, very Old West style. And that repetitive note which “Anarchy” starts with, building expectations up, just like in a riot. Or the piano in “Excited”. Don’t know about you, but I thought these were all priceless.

The opening track, “Change The World”, brings to mind “Riot In Everyone” – the same message of not following political-correct flocks, but the music itself more elaborated, more guitar work, the bass even more present and the beats more diverse. It has single-material stamped all over it.

Not a ballad in any way – this time the boys kept them at bay – but there’s something softer about “California” that makes you think of convertibles driving through long avenues into the California sunset, just like you see in the movies. Mind you that I said “softer”, not “soft”, as the rhythm is still pretty much alive here.

Both “Circus” and “Damaged Kid” keep the rock pumping through and through, but it’s “Drinkin’ Without You” that’s the sleaze rock poster-song, all sleek and loose. “Snakes In Paradise” is also very sleazy, but in a dark kind of way.

And then there’s “Garden Of Babylon”, a track with some of the angriest and, at the same time, most melodic moments of “The Savage Playground”. Despite its more than 7-minute length, something we’re not used to with CrashDïet, I strongly recommend it.

When I reviewed “Generation Wild” almost three years ago, the last line read “The kids of the underground are back and, I dare to say, stronger than ever”. Now that “The Savage Playground” is here, “stronger than ever” takes a whole new meaning.

Label: Gain Records

Producer: Otto Wellton

Tracklist:

1. Change The World
2. Cocaine Cowboys
3. Anarchy
4. California
5. Lickin’ Dog
6. Circus
7. Sin City
8. Got A Reason
9. Drikin’ Without You
10. Snakes In Paradise
11. Damaged Kid
12. Excited
13. Garden Of Babylon

www.crashdiet.org 

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