History dictates that for a band to change an established frontman leads to a decline in said bands popularity. Sure their are bands that have bucked the trend, Van Halen successfully swapped David Lee Roth for Sammy Hagar and continued releasing platinum albums, Black Sabbath had a degree of success replacing Ozzy Osbourne with Ronnie James Dio, but these are very much the exception rather than the norm. More often than not the band implodes and sees their careers nosedive. Take Motley Crue as one example. After gaining their first No.1 album Stateside with Dr. Feelgood the band brought John Corabi onboard for it's self titled follow up and regardless of the vocal talents of Corabi when compared to his predecessor, Vince Neil, the public just couldn't accept the new line up and the band have struggled to regain their success ever since.

What does this little history lesson have to do with Warrant though. Well for 'Born Again' Warrant have parted ways with long time vocalist Jani Lane and brought in former Black 'N' Blue singer Jamie St. James as his replacement. Ok along the way the band have also reformed with the remainder of the line up from their break through Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich debut but that may very well be beside the point as 'Born Again' will be judged as much on St. James performance and ability to fill Lane's shoes as any other criteria you may care to mention. So how does the boy do then?

Well for a start Warrant have ditched the bubblegum pop sound that brought them their greatest success and gone for an altogether dirty, richer more blues orientated direction that is no more evident than on opening two tracks 'Devils Juice' & 'Dirty Jack'  Indeed these two songs follow very much inn the direction of the aforementioned self titled Motley Crue album with John Corabi. The hooks aren't necessarily in the chorus' of the songs but in the riff led verse sections and the counterpoint vocals that compliment them.

Indeed throughout the record don't expect anything along the lines of 'Cherry Pie' or 'Down Boys' as you won't find it. The music is much more mature even if the lyrical content at times is slightly on the clichéd pre-pubescent side - "I was born on the wrong side of the tracks... I can scream I can shout like a heart attack... I'm a boy, I'm a kid but I'm still man... I'm a hurricane inside don't you understand.. just a tiger by the tail without a plan.. so insatiable feel like I'm superman" from 'Bourbon County Line' standing out as one such example. However in saying this St. James provides an excellent performance throughout vocally speaking, less helium fuelled than in his Black 'N' Blue days and much more whiskey soaked and fuller in timbre.

The true stand out feature of this album is without doubt the sound that the band have managed to capture. The production is almost faultless giving breathing space for all the instruments to shine, the guitar tones are crisp and clean and the bottom end bass and drums give the whole structure a solid foundation. I cna honestly say that this wasn't an album I was looking forward to reviewing with much pleasure but one that has greatly surprised me and if fans of Warrant are prepared to give the record a chance one that equals, and exceeds much of what the band has released in the past. Yes it''s different but different in this instance means good.  'Born Again' is an album the listener needs to come to with an open mind and then may very well be surprised by what they find. Congratulations all round me thinks...

Let us know your views on 'Born Again'

Track List

Devils Juice
Dirty Jack
Bourbon County Line
Hell, CA.
Angels
Love Strikes Like Lightning
Glimmer
Roller Coaster
Down In Diamonds
Velvet Noose
Roxy
Good Times

Line Up

Jamie St. James - Vocals
Joey Allen - Guitars
Erik Turner - Guitars
Jerry Dixon - Bass
Steven Sweet - Drums