(AOR/Metal heaven) Total Time: 44.39
Swedish Rock n Roller Chris Laney has been involved in music all his life. He started to tour at the age of 13 and was in bands like SCRATCH and SEVENTEEN. He is a multi-talented musician who plays piano, drums and other instruments, but the guitar is what has become his closest friend. Chris Laney is endorsed by Motoby Guitars and he has designed his own models for Motoby
Chris Laney is also known as a brilliant songwriter and producer. He is working at worldwide known Polar Studios that was built by members in ABBA. Today the Polar Studios is owned by legendary producer/engineer Lennart stlund (Led ZEPPELIN, ROLLING STONES, ABBA). Chris Laney invited Lennart stlund to work with him on his solo-album “Pure”. Lennart stlund is co-producer, co-mixing as well as co-writer and musician.
As a producer/engineer Chris Laney has worked with artists like CANDLEMASS, EUROPE, CRASHDIET, EASY ACTION and others. Chris Laney has received two Swedish Grammy's and has been nominated for a total of seven. He has sold gold and double platinum as a songwriter and producer.
As a guitarist you will find Chris Laney as a member in Randy Pipers Animal and ZAN CLAN, bands where he was also the main songwriter and producer. Chris Laney has released two albums with ex-WASP guitarist Randy Piper in his band Animal, Chris Laney has released one album with Zan Clan “We Are Zan Clan Who the Fxxk Are You” (2005) and the DVD “Kickz The Livin Shit Outta Stockholm”(2006).
In March 2009 this talented songwriter/producer/guitarist/singer show his musicianship on his first solo album simply called “Pure”. The songs are all written by Chris Laney, with co-writers like Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION, GRAND FUNK), Lennart stlund (Mats Leven (THERION, Yngwie Malmstein) and others.
Chris Laney has a charismatic voice and he sings on all songs on “Pure” where several of his friends appear, for instance J.Koleberg (ANIMAL, ZAN CLAN), Nalle Pahlsson (TREAT, ANIMAL, ZAN CLAN), Vic Zino (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR), Martin Sweet (CRASHDIET), Zinny Zan (EASY ACTION, SHOTGUN MESSIAH, ZAN CLAN).
The album is an astonishing compilation of melodic yet sleaze hard rock songs bringing a lot in mind early WASP,SHOTGUN MESSIAH and ZAN CLAN with all the Swedish backing vocals harmonies that made TREAT an EUROPE such big names. The production is crystal clear, the guitarists that participate are among the best and they all support the final result. Listen to “The stranger in you” and you have an idea on how melodic hard rock must be played. This is a perfect amalgam of sleaze rock and melodic Scandinavian Hard rock. Up tempo and heavy, edgy listen to Fire and Ice” but still catchy. The rhythms section is overwhelming and the vocal delivery of Laney along with the overproduced backing vocals just blow the unsuspected listener. After the CRASHDIET and DANGER albums and of course my personal favorites ZAN CLAN this is another example that water in Sweden has something in it. The DEF LEPPARD wall of sound that we loved at “Hysteria” is back, just listen to “Get u down” and understand the quality of this album. We also have a KISS tribute at “Last man standing” a song reminding of “Crazy nights” only with better lyrics. If you can think of the WASP of the early albums with vocals that a little tastier and a touch more human and the guitars to be better produced and have more volume, performing DEF LEPPARD songs at the MOTLEY CRUE studio you may get the point. This is an album that will rock your world and definitely has some great songs. Every melody reminds of something and start with a dominating riff that comes as a nail and grabs you till you pledge guilty and surrender to the magic of modern melodic sleaze rock. I guess Alice Cooper should meet Chris Laney and ask him some help for his next album as this guy has a lot in common in the way he composes and performs with Dave Roberts, the body builder, guitar player of Alice .Make yourself a favor if you are in to manic guitar driven melodic sleaze rock and find this album.
