Search - Shark Island :: Law of the Order

Classic 80's melodic rock album

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 04/29/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1989's Law of the Order was the major label debut from L.A. melodic rockers Shark Island. I'm not sure how I missed these guys the first time around. I enjoyed their work on the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989 Film) soundtrack, and knew of vocalist Richard Black's involvement in the Contraband project, but for whatever reason never picked up a copy of Law of the Order when it was originally released.



I wish I hadn't waited so long to check out Law of the Order, because it is definitely my kind of melodic rock album, full of great melodies, catchy guitar hooks, and Richard Black's gritty, midrange voice, which sounds a bit like a less obnoxious version of Billy Idol's. Essentially, it's L.A. Guns without the sleaze. You can still hear the band's glam metal roots here and there, but this was definitely not just another lipstick and spandex kind of band. Sure, it's formulaic, but it's a formula that worked well at the time, and it's still more fun to listen to than most of what's on the radio today. Standout tracks include rockers Shake for Me and Passion to Ashes, power ballad Bad for Each Other, and the band's rocking version of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain.



Law of the Order is well worth hunting down if you're a serious fan of the 80's melodic hard rock scene, especially of bands like Dokken, XYZ, Leatherwolf, and Hurricane.



The track listing is as follows:



1. Paris Calling

2. Shake for Me

3. Somebody's Falling

4. Bad for Each Other

5. Passion to Ashes

6. Spellbound

7. Get Some Strange

8. Why Should I Believe

9. Ready or Not

10. The Chain

"

What happened? This album is amazing!

Colin... | Las Vegas, NV USA | 08/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shark Island should have been huge. One listen to this album and you'll see why. The guitar tone, very catchy riffs and melodies, and amazing vocals by Richard Black make this album extremely underrated and overlooked unfortuneatly. Whenever I play this album for my friends they all love it. Damn epic records for not pushing this album more or at all. I wouldn't know I was 5 when it came out. But who cares, it's still here...it may be hard to find but it's around. I listen to it at least 3 times a week.



Stand out tracks...

Paris Calling

Shake for Me

Somebody's Falling

Bad for Each Other

Passion to Ashes

Spellbound

Get Some Strange

Why Should I Believe

The Chain



S**t thats damn near all of them. Ready or Not I didn't really like that much, but 9 out of 10 aint bad by any means. My point is...BUY THIS ALBUM!"

Shark Island Rocks your World

Mr D. | Cave Creek, Az United States | 10/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know about five stars for the album but the opening song, "Paris Calling", one of my all time favorite hard rock songs, is worth six stars alone. Song two, "Shake for Me" also is a great song and reminds me of Alice Cooper.



Lead Singer, Richard Black, has an excellent technique and does a super job. Songs three through ten are good as well(at least four stars) and "Get Some Strange" is another fabulous song. This should have been a big hit but just as it was released Nirvana and Pearl Jam came on the scene with grunge.



If I were to compare Shark Island with anybody the obvious comparison would be Guns and Roses or Great White and there ain't nut'n wrong with that!



KILLER CUTS:

Paris Calling

Shake Foe Me

Somebody's Falling

Passion to Ages

Get Some Strange

Why Should I Believe

The Chain"