Year : 1997 (Expanded Remastered Edition 2019)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 171 mb
Bio:
Under Fire, built around the guitar talent of Swede Cary Sharaf, who found fame and fortune after moving to the USA and hooking up with Billy Squier initially. These guys are not to be confused with the other US band of the same name who released the 'Flames' CD from 1991. Jimmy Waldo puts an appearance in, though at the time (circa 1985) he was still with his other band Alcatrazz. Under Fire didn't get this effort out in 1985 so the songs remained for the best part a 'trade secret'. They had a strong driving melodic attack, like an US version of Swedish wonders Treat combined with that Alcatrazz pomp sound circa 'Disturbing The Peace'.
Album:
You’ll find surprisingly little information online about the band, Under Fire. On the one hand that is surprising, given the band was assembled by Cary Sharif, Billy Squier’s guitarist on his breakout album, Don’t Say No, plus Jimmy Waldo, keyboard man with New England, Quiet Riot and Alcatrazz. On the other, their sole album (1989) was released on a tiny US label, got no promotion and they didn’t tour.Eighties’ Melodic Rock had cast a giant shadow. Some bands broke out into the light, and others, like Under Fire, lacked the originality to get out from under. Too much of their one and only album is filled with lumbering, anticlimactic material. ‘Rolling Down That Road’ searches for a comfortable groove, but lacks a decent tune. ‘Heart In Pain’ has a taut, streamlined verse and bridge but is let down by an underwritten chorus, and ‘Love You One More Time’ lacks identity – you could never have picked it out of a lineup.Given the year of release, it’s no surprise that it’s the album’s AOR anthems that glow the brightest here. Specifically, it’s the booming, keyboard driven arena rock of ‘No More Heartaches’, ‘Crazy For Love’ and ‘Hold Out’, propelled by Moki Demarco’s gale force vocals, that push your heart to beat that little bit faster. Yes, they’re lyrically limited, and yes they’re derivative – echoes of The Who, Blue Tears, Autograph and others ring out through this declamatory stadium rock – but they strike a chord. Well used and worn down perhaps, but one that resonates, none the less. Waldo and Sharif had auditioned many vocalists before choosing DeMarco, and he was something of a find. His vocal similarity to Clyde (Biloxi) Holly on these tracks is astounding.This remaster (by New England’s Hirsh Gardner) brings up the keyboards and bass, and dampens down the guitars, particularly giving the anthemic stuff more oomph.A second disc, of bonus tracks, is intriguing . . . if this is the stuff that missed the cut, then . . .but, there are two tracks – from the eight – that feature Waldo’s pal from Quiet Riot, Paul Shortino. And these are something. Shortino’s raucous, barrel chested rasp adds real character to these two Survivor imitations. Why Shortino? Who knows, maybe these were recorded before DiMarco came on board.This 2 CD remaster comes with new liner notes from Malcolm Dome, based on an interview with Jimmy Waldo. Dome has created an appealing pen portrait of Waldo, focusing on the man’s humanity, rather than his life as a musician. A welcome change from liner note hagiography.
Line-Up:
Cary Sharaf - Guitar, Bass, Backing Vox
Jim Waldo - Keyboards, Backing Vox
Steve Schwartz - Drums
Moki Demarco - Lead Vox
Greg Wise - Bass, Backing Vox
Paul Shortino - Lead Vox
Tracklist:
CD1: "Under Fire" Remastered
01. No More Heartaches
02. Crazy for Love
03. Heart in Pain
04. Rolling Down That Road
05. Love You One More Time
06. Hold Out
07. Burning Desire
08. Crossfire
09. Always on the Run
10. When You Feel Lonely
CD2: Unreleased Bonus Tracks
01. I Want Our Love to Be Strong
02. Miracle
03. Long and Lonely Nights
04. Love for the Moment
05. Strangers (feat. Paul Shortino)
06. Where Were You (feat. Paul Shortino)
07. Get It Right
08. I Can't Tell You Why
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
