Review: Sibel Kutlucan

Pushking’s new album, “The World As We Love It” certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! The album packs a punch with 19 tracks selected from an extensive back catalogue, and featuring a smorgasbord of rock legends, from Paul Stanley, Alice Cooper and Steve Vai (just to name a few!) For these amazing names alone The World As We Love It is worth a listen, however, Pushking definitely hold their own ground and prove their recognition as amazing European power-metal rockers that can’t help but throw you back in time to huge hair, and shiny leather pants.

Pushking hail from their native Russia, where they have released 15 albums since their formation in 1994; however The World As We Love It has been their first international release and I definitely think this record should be bought to the attention of the masses, even if it is to put some hair on your chest and remind you of the true power ballads and guitar solos of yester-year.

Stand-out tracks (hard to narrow down from the 19 unique and just plain awesome tracks) for me would have to be “Nightrider” –an all powerful, all metal track, that channels Meat Loaf circa late 1970s-early 80s. Another aspect that makes this track mind-blowing classic rock for me is the additional vocals and guitar provided by Billy Gibbons! (For the musically unaware, Billy Gibbons hails from ZZ Top)

Another definite favourite for me would have to be “Troubled Love”, which is pretty hard not to love with the combination of Alice Cooper’s featuring vocals and Pushking’s noble front man Konstantin “Koha” Shustarev creating an amazing power-pop sound. However, a definite winner for me on this track would have to be Alice Cooper’s right hand man, Keri Kelli on guitar, shredding out and just owning the song.

The World As We Love It is a fantastic album, and the amount of time and effort that has gone into it is adamant, however as powerful as Pushking are, at times I found myself listening out for the countless rock legends that contributed to the album, and often forgot to listen out for Pushking themselves. Perhaps, a few songs without any legendary contributors would allow for a more personal Pushking sound to develop, however regardless it is an amazing album with bluesy, power-pop, melodic rock and just classic rock elements, combined with poetic, yet powerful lyrics that is truly a representation of Pushking and their 15 years of dominating this style, that definitely is not dead today.

Review: Sibel Kutlucan