Fate’s third album, Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’, is getting a re-issue on MTM Classix almost 20 years after its initial release. 

I am old enough to remember when the title of the album was a phrase regularly heard the length and breadth of the school playgrounds in this country and it immediately bought a smile to my face when I saw it. 

For this album, the band line-up had changed slightly and whilst Jeff Limbo was still handling vocal duties with his trademark crystal clear delivery, the guitarist slot had been filled by the bizarrely-monikered “The Mysterious Mr Moth”. 

This digitally remastered re-issue can in no way disguise the archetypal 80s sound of Fate on this album. The sound is definitely “bigger” than that on the re-issued debut album, with the drums making their presence felt much more significantly, in particular. This is very much due to the choice of producer, with Fate employing Simon Hanhart, following his excellent work with Bryan Adams, Asia, Malmsteen and Marillion amongst others. 

The album kicks off with “Beneath Da Coconuts” and you can immediate feel a more polished band in action, despite the song itself not being anything too special. The second track is a revamped version of “Love On The Rox” from their own debut, and a much improved version it is too. 

Again, as with the debut, you have to put this re-issue in context and have an appreciation of what the AOR / melodic rock scene was like at the time of its initial release to avoid unfair comparisons with modern albums in the genre. I think, having said that, that this third album stands the test of time much better than the debut with slightly better songs and a huge improvement in the overall sound. 

Catchy tracks like “Lovers” and the David Lee Roth-inspired “Dead Boy, Cold Meat” are definitely the products of a more mature songwriting outlook. The latter definitely sounds like something that could easily have fit onto DLR’s “Eat ‘Em And Smile” album, with some blistering guitar work. 

This album has been another which has proved very difficult to get hold of over the last few years and therefore MTM Classix will have pleased a lot of fans by making it available. Another album to add to your collection for sure if you are a fan of classic 80s sounding AOR / melodic rock.