American Angel - 'Vanity'
                                                                                                                                                                Released through Chavis Records in 2007
THE BAND:
Rocco Fury - Lead Vocals / Acoustic Guitar
Dennis Zehrer - Guitar / Vocals
Mike Bisulca - Guitar / Vocals
Marc Ambrosy - Drums / Percussions
Jay Druzsba -Bass Guitar
Eric Ragno – Keyboards


TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "While I'm Away" - Instrumental
2.) "Pantomind" - There is a very simple double bass drum patter underneath this intro section.  In a lot of ways the lyric line arrangements of the pre-verses were very reminiscent of the way Joe Lynn Turner arranges his lyric lines.  Mind you this is arrangement wise and not sound.  The musical and lyrical arrangements of the chorus were heavily influenced by Danny Vaughn when he was with Waysted and the songs the band wrote on their 'Save You Prayer' L.P. that was released in 1986.  Right off the bat on this first chorus of the opening track lead vocalist Rocco shows his vocal strength and singing ability.  Connecting the first chorus to the second verse there is a small musical rest that consisted of a hi-hat count-off.  Leading into the second verse there is two different rhythm guitar riffs.  This is the first time that you can distinctly tell that the band consists of two different guitarists.  The lead guitar solo after the second chorus was taken right out of the late eighties.    
3.) "Vanity" - This title track was originally released on American Angel's 'Christmas All The Time' single released in I believe in December of 2006.  The track opens with a small keyboard arrangement before going into the main musical intro.  The main musical intro section had a very laid back feel to it.  The coolest thing about the main intro section had to be the hi-hat.  The band changed the arrangement for the musical verse to a more intense musical feel.  The drum line underneath the musical verse consisted of a couple tom-tom fills.  The backing vocals of the choruses had a very tight sound to them.  There is a small accented vocal line that connects the first chorus to the second verse.  There is a small breakdown section that consisted of a spoken vocal line that leads into the lead guitar solo.  The lead guitar solo runs underneath the last chorus of the outro section. 
4.) "On The Hunt" -Written by band members Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant this Lynard Skynard cover song was originally released on the band's 1975 album titled, 'Nuthin' Fancy'.  This cover blows the original away.  In fact, it is so good if I was Lynard Skynard I would be embarrassed to ever play it again!!!
5.) "Seven" -There is a small lead guitar rhythm over the top of this eighties influenced hard rock blues intro section.  The musical verse consisted of two different rhythm guitar riffs.  As the verse progresses the band was able to stretch the arrangements intensity without changing the main rhythm arrangement.  The backing harmonies of the chorus had a very laid back melodic hook attached to them.  Connecting the first chorus with the second verse there was a small twin lead guitar riff.  These types of heavy metal songs are very simple and I don't think there were many hard rock bands from the eighties that did not write a song such as this.  The highlight of the track had to be the backing vocals.  
6.) "Warm Inside" -This ballad opens with an acoustic guitar arrangement and bass line.  Underneath the musical intro Marc plays a small ride cymbal pattern.  In the way Marc plays the ride pattern fills in some of the empty spaces left by the acoustic guitar.  The lead vocal lines of the verse had a arena rock feel to them.  Because of the acoustic guitar, keyboard, and vocal lines of the verse this song was written in a perfect key for the band.  The band incorporate a electric guitar riff for the musical chorus.  This changes the dynamics of the song.  Vocally this is one of the many tracks on the CD that you can say was Rocco's swan song.  Much like the rest of the arrangement the lead guitar solo had a very laid back melodic feel to it.  The outro section consisted of an acoustical guitar arrangement. 
7.) "Don't Wait Up" -There is a minor lead guitar riff over the top of this intro section.  The lyrical and musical verse was heavily influenced and very reminiscent of Tora Tora and the stuff they recorded on their 'Surprise Attack' CD released in April of 1990.  There is a small rhythm change for the musical pre-chorus.  In the way the band laced the lead vocal lines over the top of the backing harmonies gives the song a very nice melody.  For the lead guitar solo the band kept the same hard rock blues feel.  Underneath the outro section Marc switched his single bass drum pattern to a double bass drum pattern.    
8.) "Breathe" - This track opens with a keyboard effect that leads into a tom-tom drum pattern.  There are two different rhythm guitar riffs that opens the musical verse, both of these rhythms had a very abstract feel to them.  Vocally I was completely blown away by Rocco's vocal lines of the verses on this track.  The verse arrangement runs into the chorus a little quickly.  If you are not paying attention you will almost miss it.  There is a small talk box effect connecting the first chorus to the second verse.  There are little lead guitar licks underneath the lead vocal lines of the second verse.  In fact these little licks are scattered throughout the entire song.  This song is a perfect example of way the talk box guitar effect needs to be used more often.  The lead guitar solo, though good was a little more laid back then I was hoping for.  With that being said this is such a strong song I am not going to complain.
9.) "In Perfection" - The pre-musical intro of this track opens with a rhythm guitar riff.  A couple of the notes that made up this opening rhythm guitar riff were influenced by older Edward Van Halen.  In between the lyric lines of the verse there is a small rhythm arrangement change.  The backing harmonies of the choruses are very tight with a nice sounding hook.  The lead guitar solo after the second chorus had a very laid back melodic feel to it.  All in all this song was fairly straight forward and a great rock 'n' roll song. 
10.) "End Of The Night" -This track consisted of no intro section.  One of the few things that will catch your ear will be the double bass drum pattern and bass line.  The rhythm guitar riffs of the verse were very reminiscent to the way Jake E Lee (Ozzy & Badlands) plays his guitar riffs.  I think underneath the third or fourth lyric line of the opening verse the band incorporates a second rhythm guitar arrangement.  Up until this point the musical arrangement sounded a little empty.  The song started out very intense but when the backing harmonies of the chorus kicks-in the song leans towards a more melodic feel.  This is one of the few musical arrangements were you can actually hear Jay's bass playing talent.  This is very evident on the breakdown section of the song.  The lead guitar solo on this song is the first on the release that was done with twin lead guitars.  
11.) "Another Day" -This ballad opens with the verse.  The first verse consisted of an acoustic guitar arrangement and lead vocal line.  The full band does not kick-in until the second lyric line.  As the verse progresses it sounded like they slowed the song down just a little.  There is a minor lead guitar solo that runs underneath the chorus.  The main musical and vocal arrangements have a very subtle feel to them.  At times the lead guitar solo after the first chorus had influences of legendary instrumentalist Steve Vai (solo, Whitesnake & David Lee Roth Band).  The lead guitar solo the guys wrote for this track fit the song perfectly.  
12.) "Turns To Gray" - This track opens with a very simple hard rock rhythm guitar riff.  One measure into a second rhythm guitar kicks-in.  This second rhythm guitar riff was done using a effects pedal.  A couple measures into the main musical intro one of the rhythm guitar riffs switches to a lead rhythm.  The rhythm guitar switches from a standard distorted sound to a clean electric sound underneath the vocal lines of the pre-verse.  For the musical verse the guitarist switch the rhythm guitar riffs back to a distorted guitar sound.  The backing harmonies of the chorus were taken right from an eighties hard rock fake book.  In the way the guys arranged the chorus gives the chorus a very sweet hook.  The lead guitar solo was heavily influenced from late eighties hard rock.  There are little lead guitar licks underneath the third chorus and outro.      
13.) "Permanent Pause" - Like a couple of the songs on this CD, this song also consisted of no intro section.  The track kicks-off with a tom-tom fill before going into the hard rock blues verse.  The rhythm guitar riffs underneath the verse are mainly playing rhythm cords.  There is a heavy re-verbed rhythm guitar underneath the vocal lines of the chorus.  The backing harmonies on this track were huge sounding.  The main musical arrangements are very simple and laid back sounding.  The way the breakdown/solo section was recorded changed the dynamics of the song. 


    'Vanity' is the first release from American Angel after taking a fifteen-year hiatus.  To be completely honest I was not to familiar with the band, so before I started this review I signed on to their website (www.americanangelrocks.com) and listened to audio files from their previous releases.  From the audio files that is posted on the band’s site in comparison to the thirteen tracks on ‘Vanity’.  ‘Vanity’ blows their earlier material away!!!  When listening to the CD there is not one shred of evidence the band has ever split up.  With influences that range from Lynard Skynard to Waysted to Tora Tora how can ‘Vanity’ not be an essential classic.  If you are fans of late eighties hard rock then this will be an absolute must have!