Kick Ass!

No one can ever say that the hearts of Switzerland's Backwash aren't in the right place when it comes to keeping classic hard rock, well, rockin' well into the new millennium; but solid chops and good intent ain't guaranteed to get you even a footnote in this game of rock & roll — if you're lucky. And, although there's technically nothing wrong with their album's many snappy numbers, such as "No Gun No Fun," "Tell My Line" or "Catfight," their competent execution and catchy choruses only barely leave a register of their passing upon the listeners' adrenalin glands, never mind ears. I mean, where's the sex, where are the drugs, when does the Kick Ass! (emphasis on the exclamation mark) portion of the program actually begin? Fact is, none of these proficient but often lackluster songs exude the same desperate drive to succeed that ignited AC/DC's early efforts; nor the carefree, flashy decadence driving Mötley Crüe or Hanoi Rocks; nor the innate sense of danger that made Guns N' Roses so exciting — and these are all cited as major influences by the guys in Backwash. Upbeat opener "Legless" is as close as they come with its nearly out-of-control Backyard Babies vibe, "Crash" scores points for emulating that old time AC/DC boogie, and "No More Favors" raises an eyebrow with its funky, almost disco-style bass and raunchy vocals, but none of these are likely to deliver Backwash even a trace of the legendary status of their influences. After all, until they tap into those deeper emotions themselves, the group can only expect to incite a smidgeon of it in their fans.