Swiss hard rockers get under the covers
A band that have always been prone to recording the odd cover here and there (indeed, since their third album there’s always been at least one on their albums) it was perhaps a natural step for the Swiss hard rock legends to put their hands to a full covers album.
The idea behind “Big Rocks – The Roots Of Krokus” is pretty damn simple. Record a load of massive hits that have influenced them over the years and stick it out as a full-length collection.
Some covers albums eschew the obvious, not here. Indeed, there’s pretty much nothing on here that any self-respecting fan of classic rock doesn’t know off by heart and hasn’t got on a million albums and compilations.
But if that means that in all honesty “Big Rocks” is anything but essential, it doesn’t mean it’s not lovingly done, by a brilliantly skilled rock band and it doesn’t mean that isn’t a lot of fun.
“N.I.B” by Sabbath, starts this off, but the first time we get to hear Marc Storace’s distinctive vocals is on “Tie Your Mother Down”, which is more AC/DC than Queen here.
The songs here are Krokus versions of the classics, rather than mere copies. “My Generation” seems to want to start a riot, “Wild Thing” is steroid filled, “House Of The Rising Sun” is given a blues makeover, while “Rockin’ In The Free World” cheerily nips up the Sunset Strip for an 1980’s cock rock mosh.
And so it goes. These are not versions of songs that are going to change your life, even they are songs that changed Krokus’. “Gimme Some Lovin’” has in truth been one better elsewhere, but “Whole Lotta Love” is given a good going over.
Arguably best of all are the songs that weren’t hard rock songs to start with. “Summertime Blues” is testosterone filled here, and “Quinn The Eskimo” is a delivered as a cocksure strutter of a thing, both of these work a little better than yet another go on “Born To Be Wild” and although “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is superb, then it doesn’t add anything to the perfection of the original.
And an original is where we end. Because “Backseat Rock n Roll” is tagged onto the end of this and this brand new song shows just why so many people love Krokus so much and argue that they’ve never had quite the kudos they deserve for being ace for quite this long. A sassy, classy, boogie rocker, if you want to know what this band is, then start at the end.
“Big Rocks – The Roots Of Krokus” is like one of those stocking fillers you used to get at Christmas. There’s nothing wrong with it, and its fun to play with for a while, but you won’t have a clue where you’ve put it in a couple of months.
Rating 6.5/10
