Velveteen Queen - The Greater Good (Red & Corona Vinyl)

From the first teasing riff and maraca-shake of “Too Far Gone”, the opening track from Velveteen Queen’s forthcoming second album The Greater Good, the Swedish rockers make it clear your hips had better be ready to swing and your rockin' boots ready to roll. This is an album which brings the strut of the Sunset Strip’s glory days via Sweden, with a healthy dash of old-school Guns N’ Roses, alongside spiritual ties to Shotgun Messiah, Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe.

There’s a snap and vigor in Velveteen Queen that is instantly exciting to the ears. Take the bounce and groove of the glam-punk “Walk or Talk”, which boasts a huge choral hook and a snarling top lip of attitude. Meanwhile, “Liar” is soaked in sleazy bad boy mean streets, with riffs swinging low and hard. Yet there’s also full ballad artistry on display with the soulful “Sorry”, showing that Velveteen Queen can bring it down to strands of raw emotion.

Make no mistake, while the influences on Velveteen Queen are clear, the approach, songwriting, and delivery is utterly fresh, packed with undeniable positive energy and rebel attitude. There’s a new generation of young glam/trash rockers craving The Greater Good, and Velveteen Queen confidently and successfully deliver exactly what they are looking for.

1. Too Far Gone
2. The Greater Good
3. Talk or Walk
4. Adrenaline
5. Can't Go Back in Time
6. Chains
7. It Ain't Over
8. Liar
9. Best of the Best
10. Sorry
11. Try (Try to Believe Me)