Holland’s most dangerous band is back at it again! Of course I am talking about the notorious rock ‘n’ roll outlaws from Rotterdam, whom go by the name of the Stealers. The band incited a riotous crime wave in 2012 and early 2013 with the release of their much appraised, self-titled, debut LP that got followed up by the “Breakout” single. But after the latter things slowly got silent around this pack of thieves… Hiding out? Held hostage? Arrested? Who knows and from here on, who cares? Because the fast and loose boys from the fastest city in the Netherlands have returned with their sophomore album; “Street Law”!
Of course I am biased as fuck writing about this record. Not only are these lads from the same city as I am, I also attend football matches with the most of them once every two weeks (at least starting from next season on, C’mon Feyenoord!!)! This doesn’t take away the fact that “Street Law” turned out into one hell of an album though! Faster and louder than anything else they ever produced before, the Stealers instantly step on it with opener “Blitzbomber”, a full-scale rock ‘n’ roll raid that leaves nothing but destruction behind! Time to take a breath… not a chance! Because you immediately get “Swept Away” by its pursuing assault, delivering more of that Motör-esque bulldozer rock they’ll “Run You Down” with throughout the album!
But besides the obvious Motörhead influences, the likes of Rose Tattoo, the Dead Boys and Johnny Thunders also had a huge impact on the Stealers’ sound. Something you can hear clearly hear on songs like “Fast And Loose” (not a cover), the re-recorded “Breakout” (no, not a cover either), “Back At It”, “Knife Point” and “Born To Steal”. The rhythm section pounds like a ten ton hammer, while the hard rockin’ riffs and roaring guitar solos electrify! Topped off with the maniacal vocals of the evenly maniacal front man Pet, “Street Law” will be one of the meanest and most vicious rock ‘n’ roll albums you will hear this year!
And if you disagree, then maybe you just weren’t born to steal… Killer from start to finish!
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