Customer Reviews

Bite the Bullet

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Coming nearly a decade after their debut (2000's Thunderdome), 2009's Bite the Bullet is the second album from Norwegian melodic rockers Street Legal.

I have to admit I didn't care all that much for Thunderdome, and wasn't planning on picking up Bite the Bullet until I read that their new guitarist was none other than Tore Ostby of Ark and Conception fame. Ostby's presence convinced me to give the album a try, and I'm glad I did. Bite the Bullet is a much more refined and mature album than its predecessor. The album has a definite Thin Lizzy/UFO vibe. It's very rocking and very melodic, with solid midrange vocals from ex-DaVinci frontman Bjorn Boge. Ostby lights this album up, blazing away as much as he can get away with on a melodic rock album.

Bite the Bullet is a solid album all-around, and the songs are well-written. The albums most interesting moments though, are a pair of oddball covers. The first is a cover of Bad News' (a Spinal Tap-like parody band) "Warriors of Genghis Khan" and the second is the dance anthem "Maniac" from the Flashdance soundtrack. The band plays both songs without a hint of irony, and both make convincing hard rockers, though Firewind beat Street Legal to the punch with their version of "Maniac" on Premonition.

The year is young, but Street Legal's comeback album is already one of the better melodic rock albums I've heard in 2009. If you're a fan of this kind of music, you should definitely check out Bite the Bullet, especially if, like me, you weren't a fan of the band the first time around.

The Good

"Loading Up" is anthemic with a blusey tinge. The album's title track "Somebody Up There Likes Me" is a steady rocker with throaty melodic vocals. "Warriors Of Genghis Khan" jumps into European metal territory with monster riffage and pounding drums. The album's title track "Bite the Bullet" is a smooth track with a hook laden chorus. "Trapped" delivers some of the best guitar licks since the days of 80s thrash. I hate to say it, but the bands best track is a cover tune. Street Legal pump up the energy and inject distorted guitars into Michael Sembello's "Maniac." If you don't remember the artist, you're sure to remember Jennifer Beals sitting in a chair, dumping a bucket of water on herself in the movie Flashdance.

The Bad

Nothing notable

The Verdict

Bite the Bullet is the sophomore effort for this Norwegian-bred band. The group combines hard rock elements with straight-up blues. When all is said and done, Street Legal deliver a strong rock album.