Crazy Lixx: New Religion (Frontiers)

2010’s New Religion was the second album from Crazy Lixx, one of the best bands in the Swedish sleaze rock scene (and if you know how great that scene is, you know that’s saying something). Like Hardcore Superstar, Crashdiet, Reckless Love and the like, Crazy Lixx is bringing back the Hollywood “hair metal” sound with a modern energy and that uniquely Swedish sense of melody.

Crazy Lixx really isn’t reinventing the formula here, but they definitely breathe new life into this already exciting style of party rock. Not only are they serving up hook-heavy rock anthems with insane melodies, their vocal harmonies are just incredible. They’ve added a dose of Def Leppard to the Motley Crue and L.A. Guns influence, and it really pays off. New Religion is just a fantastic and fun album from high-octane start to finish. The whole album rocks, but you have to especially love party anthems like “21 Till I Die,” “Rock and a Hard Place” and “Lock Up Your Daughter,” and even ballads like “Blame It On Love” are irresistible. You will sing along to these songs, and you will sing loud!

If you’re a fan of the Swedish sleaze rock scene, New Religion is a must-have album. Crazy Lixx took the party rock excitement and energy from their 2007 debut (Loud Minority) and upped the melodies and vocal harmonies, and the results are incredible. This album should appeal to just about anyone who grew up listening to Motley Crue, Def Leppard, King Kobra, Poison, Bang Tango, White Lion and the rest of the ‘80s rockers. Despite what mainstream radio would have you believe, real rock n’ roll is still alive and well if you know where to look.

Reissue Notes: Frontiers reissued New Religion (along with Loud Minority and Riot Avenue) this year. They tacked on the studio bonus track “Lights Out,” which was previously only available on the Japanese edition of New Religion. The CD was getting tough to find, so having a reissue – with the Japanese bonus track – available again is definitely a good thing.