Customer Reviews

Rock the Block

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a long time Krokus fan this is what I have been wanting for a long time. As far as I am concerned this is only the second album Krokus have done since 1988's "Heart Attack" because Krokus without Marc Storace is not Krokus. Their 1995 album "To Rock Or Not To Be" with Marc on vocals again was not a bad album with some quite good tracks and I was looking forward to more. Unfortunately it was not to be and I thought maybe it was the end for Krokus. I was pleased when I heard that Marc was returning to the band and waited with excited anticipation to get this album, and I have not been disappointed - IT ROCKS!

My favorite Krokus album is still "Headhunter" but this album is probably now my second favorite. It's style is quite different to Headhunter in that it is more of a rock type metal album as compared to the more traditional type metal album that Headhunter was. It sounds more like the style of their earlier albums such as "Metal Rendezvous", but it has a harder edge and more modern sound to it.

Some people have been quite critical of Krokus in the past for having sound & style too similar to AC/DC, but I am a huge AC/DC fan and whilst I acknowledge that the sound and style is similar, I am not one of those critics. I think such critical comparisons are probably made by those who are not that familiar with the band, because I think Krokus have an unmistakable "Krokus" sound and when I listen to them I always hear Krokus, not AC/DC.

This album just rocks from start to finish. "Mad World" is a great album opener, and the two following tracks "Leading The Pack" & "I Want It All" are also among the albums best tracks. The other best tracks are "One For All", "Looking To America", and "Go My Way" and "Raise Your Hands". The others are by no means poor tracks, in fact there is not a poor track on the whole album. It's just I think the ones mentioned are the best.

Marc Storace's voice sounds great, the band sounds great, and the production is very good. I am a self-confessed, hopeless, 80's metal fan and for me it is refreshing to hear new music recorded in that style. I just hope that there is more to come from Krokus with Marc Storace and the only reason I give this album 4 stars and not 5 is just in case they do release something in the future that I like a little better!

I have been a Krokus fan long before their glory days in the 80s and long after. Round 13 was disappointing but now with Marc Storace back in the fold this is a MUST HAVE!!! This along with De Allen-Deceptions Of Reality are by far the best releases of 2003 and probably better than anything I bought in 2002! By IT NOW!!!

This album reminds me of AC/DC's 'Razor's Edge' cd (if you like that one, you will LOVE this one), but on some of the songs Marc sounds just like Bon Scott--and that is a GOOD thing!! It's the closest thing you will find, that's for sure.
Elements of Dirty Looks and Ratt sneak into the sound, too.
The heavy rhythm at times especially reminds me of Dirty Looks.
Every song is worthwhile, and even though the first three tracks are strong, the second half of the album is EVEN STRONGER! There is no filler here. It is a strangely uplifting album, with thoughtful lyrics at times but always the hard crunch that us metalheads live by.
If ever it was worth 25 bucks to buy a cd, this is it. Don't hesitate if you like AC/DC, Ratt, Dirty Looks, or old Krokus. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see this old Swiss band still has fuel and delivers the goods (in spades!) at last.

What's good about it?
Krokus is still around and believe it or not, better than ever. They've learned the basic rock formula and worked it to it's fullest potential. "Mad World" employs a simple rock riff into a rather catchy tune about our unbalanced society. "Leading the Pack" starts off with a commanding yell and repetitive lick as Storace and company announce that Krokus is back and taking charge. They even find a way to name drop Shakira. "I Want It All" slows the tempo down a bit, but has some great melodies to it.

There's arena rock riffage-a-plenty on "Go My Way", accented by some bluesy pentatonics. Angus Young's influence is plastered all over "Raise Your Hands"; simple power chords and three chord changes. There's only so many ways you can say a woman's pissed off, but Krokus has topped them all with "Throwing Her China". At first I laughed at it, but now I can't get it out of my head. The high-energy anthem "Rock the Block" closes out the album.

Anything bad?
Alright, "We'll Rise" sucks, but that's it.

Bottom Line
Yeah, I've ragged on Krokus a lot over the years, but this album is unbelievable. I never realized how much they sounded like AC/DC, and not a bad version of AC/DC like Jet. Plenty of great rock riffs and anthems. The old boys still got it.

KROKUS AND VINTAGE ROCK N ROLL ARE BACK ON THIS CD.
ALL OF THE TRACKS SOUND GOOD. THEY REMIND YOU OF VINTAGE AC/DC.
THE VOCALS, GUITARS AND QUALITY OF EACH SONG IS GREAT.
BUY THE CD!

Ahh!The long awaited return of the original Swiss rockers.'Rock The Block' features two original members,guitarist Fernando Von Arb and vocalist Marc Storace.Have to admit that Storace MUST indeed be a busy man these days,with putting out this disc as well as the live Krokus 2-CD 'Fire&Gasoline' and lending his pipes on the current Warrior effort.'Rock...' shouldn't let down old school Krokus fans one bit as it has their trademark hard edged guitar playing and the Bon Scott-like vocals intact.The tracks that seem to show the most life are "Mad World","One For All","Looking To America",the ass-kicking "Hot Shot" and the AC/DC-ish "Raise Your Hands".Good '80's metal revived with NO regrets whatsoever.

I'm a stuck in the 80's metal guy always hoping for some new stuff from the old guys. Here it is...Krokus sounds great, crisp and loud. Every song sounds as if it was 1985 all over again. Just because a favorite of yours puts out new stuff doesnt make it good, let's face it sometimes it sucks, but Rock The Block does its name proud. It starts kickin' right off the bat with Mad World and finishes strong with Freedom. WOW....it's a definite must for any Krokus fan, or just a lover of good ole fun rock-n-roll.

Let me preface this by saying that I wasn't a big Krokus fan. Sure, I liked the early albums like Headhunter and One Vice At A Time, but that was it. After my first listen to "Rock The Block" I was completely blown away! This album rocks! The songs are all solid, the playing is top notch and Marc and Fernando haven't missed a beat. I could give you a song by song review, but in all honesty they're all good. Buy this CD!

The new album does not disappoint. It's the kind of thing I was hoping for from one of my fav 80's metal bands. It is in no way nu-metal...Good melodies & vocals, rockin riffs, and cool solos. Highlights include Leading The Pack, Rock The Block, Mad World, and Go My Way, but all the songs are good. Currently available only as an import, but it was worth it.

I don't know what Mark Storace has been eating or drinking, but his voice sounds better than it ever has. Fernando has gotten a lot younger and better talent in the band and it shows. Krokus sounds very tight. I can't believe how close Mark sounds to Bon Scott, AC/DC's first real singer. You need to purchase this album. You need to.