The Defiants: self-titled

The Defiants is a new American melodic rock band/project out this year on the Frontiers label. It features three former Danger Danger bandmates: vocalist Paul Laine, bassist/keyboardist/producer Bruno Ravel, and guitarist Rob Marcello. They’re joined here by Steve Morse Band drummer Van Romaine. Now, I’ve never been much of a Danger Danger fan, so I was going to skip this one. A buddy hooked me up with a copy though, so here we are.

Calling this a pleasant surprise would be an understatement. The Defiants come in rocking and never really let up. This album is wall-to-wall hooks and infectious melodies. It’s ultra-polished, sounding a lot like what the Swedish bands (think Treat or H.E.A.T.) might release, and the vocals are so very impressive. Laine totally nails the upbeat rockers as well as the obligatory ballad.

Remember when “feel good rock n’ roll” was a thing? That’s what The Defiants recapture on this album. It’s a “windows down, volume up” soundtrack for a summer party, with fun, catchy rockers like “Love and Bullets,” “When the Lights Go Down” and “Underneath the Stars,” and even slower songs like “That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You” end up sounding more sweet than cheesy.

Obviously The Defiants’ debut is a must-have for Danger Danger fans, but this is an album that any fan of melodic rock needs to hear. Whether you’re into the classic sounds of Def Leppard, Europe and Bon Jovi, or the newer bands like Eclipse, H.E.A.T. and Art Nation, you will find a lot to love about The Defiants.

Defiants