Snakecharmer: Second Skin (Frontiers)

UK-based melodic rockers Snakecharmer are back with their second album, titled Second Skin. The band was formed by ex-Whitesnake members Micky Moody and Neil Murray, but on this effort only Murray remains. He’s joined by vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland), guitarists Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash) and Simon McBride, keyboardist Adam Wakeman (Ozzy Osbourne) and drummer Harry James (Thunder).

As with the Snakecharmer debut, the classic bluesy Whitesnake sound slithers all throughout Second Skin. There’s more to it than that though. Heavy doses of classic Bad Company and Foreigner are present, making this a nice mix of soulful blues rock and polished AOR. Ousey’s vocals are perfect for this kind of music, and there are times (see “That Kind of Love” and “Fade Away”) when he sounds so much like the late Steve Lee (RIP) that you might think you’re hearing a lost Gotthard album. The album could use a bit more electricity at times, maybe a couple of hard rockers to balance out the blues, but overall Second Skin is just a really fun, really easy to get into album.

If you liked the Snakecharmer debut, you’re going to love Second Skin. And if you missed Snakecharmer the first time around but love the late ’70s/early ’80s bluesy AOR sound, this is an album you will definitely want to hear. Fans of early Whitesnake, Bad Company, Foreigner and Gotthard especially will find a lot to love here.