The Mugshots -
Love, Lust and Revenge


(EP CD 2013, 27:58, Alka Record Label / Black Widow Records)

The tracks:
  1- Nothing At All(6:10)
  2- Under My Skin(5:01)
  3- Curse The Moon(5:33)
  4- Free As I Am(5:50)
  5- Pass The Gun Around(5:17)





Website      samples      facebook      Alka Record Label
X


In 2002 The Mugshots were established in New York City, but surprisingly they are based in Italy. A mugshot is a slang term for a police photograph or a portrait taken after a person is arrested. The nicknames of the current band members are Mickey Evil (vocals, keyboards), Erik Stayn (keyboards), Eye-Van (bass), Macfly (guitar) and Gyorg II (drums). Special guest on lead guitar and additional piano is the legendary master of rock Dick Wagner who worked with Alice Cooper , Lou Reed, Kiss, Aerosmith and Peter Gabriel. In recent years the band recorded two full-fledged albums, namely House Of The Weirdos and Weird Theatre and two EPs called Doctor Is Out and In Disguise. The latter was distributed by an independent Italian label and got some enthusiastic reviews around the globe.

The EP Love, Lust And Revenge contains five songs all lasting over five minutes. The opening track Nothing At All has a fine piano and drum intro and great singing by Mickey Evil. The influence of Dick Wagner can already be noticed since this piece sounds like a radio-friendly Alice Cooper song. Listen to the two well-played guitar solos in the mid-section and at the end of the song. Next is the ballad Under My Skin which contains enough musical and lyrical variations to keep me focussed. Curse The Moon has the same intro as the Alice Cooper hit Hello Hooray!; the guitar licks of Dick Wagner are present all the time. Free As I Am is more a rock song with a happy feel; this could have been another song from the master of horror rock! The final song Pass The Gun Around is another great track with melodic guitar sounds and witty lyrics about gunslingers and drinking too much vodka. A nice guitar solo by MacFly ends this EP.

For me The Mugshots were a big surprise. They know how to write attractive, classical rock songs with fine melodies and intelligent lyrics.

**** Cor Smeets (edited by Peter Willemsen)

Where to buy?