Redemption

Bands influenced by vintage Southern rock (a la Lynyrd Skynyrd) and boogie metal (a la AC/DC) have become quite commonplace during the early 21st century, specifically within the realm of hard rock/heavy metal. But in the late '80s and early '90s, not so much. So for a band like Little Caesar (whose influences can be traced back to the two aforementioned groups), they were looked upon as a bit of an anomaly by all the hair-sprayed spandex rockers infiltrating the metal scene at the time. Despite causing a minor splash with a cover of "Chain of Fools" and a low-charting self-titled debut on Geffen Records in 1990 (as well as an opening spot on Kiss' Hot in the Shade tour), Little Caesar never truly connected with the metal masses. And even though they continued to issue releases over the years (albeit on a sporadic basis), Little Caesar largely sunk without a trace. However, in 2009, the lads were ready to give it another shot with the album Redemption. As with their earlier albums, you'll find an album highly derivative of -- once more -- Skynyrd and AC/DC, as heard on such tracks as "Same Old Story," "Supersonic," and the title track, among others. And you'll even find a head-scratching cover selection -- a blues-rock makeover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's hippie anthem "Woodstock." Fans of such fellow heavily tattooed/blues metal regurgitators as Buckcherry will find some familiar sounds here. ~ Greg Prato