Search - Burning Rain :: Burning Rain

Burning debut

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 07/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1999 self-titled release marked the debut of Burning Rain, a melodic rock band featuring guitarist Doug Aldrich (ex-Lion, Bad Moon Rising, Hurricane, Dio) and vocalist Keith St. John. For some reason, the straightforward hard rock of Bad Moon Rising's later efforts never sat well with me, so Burning Rain was a welcome return to the kind of melodic rock Aldrich was a part of with Lion and Hurricane.



This is an album that draws heavily from both Van Halen and Whitesnake. It alternates between an upbeat party rock sound and a more laid back, blues influenced rock sound. Aldrich is in fine form as always, and St. John's vocals bring to mind David Coverdale. He also sounds a bit like the Cult's Ian Astbury at times. I tend to prefer the band's second album over this one, but this is still a fun rock album to listen to, especially when you consider just how few fun rock & roll albums are made these days.



Burning Rain's debut is a better than average melodic rock album from a better than average melodic rock band. The band would issue one further album - 2000's Pleasure to Burn - before disbanding. Doug Aldrich of course went on to higher profile gigs with Dio and Whitesnake.

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