Search - Sleeze Beez :: Powertool

Kick a*# rock and roll, just a year too late to make a dent

Padraic | East Lansing, MI | 03/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Second record from great hard rock party band from Holland ... GREAT beer-drinking music, 'gang' backing vocals with traces of Ratt, even Def Leppard, but this band's music is grittier than either. Too bad the Beez didn't get a good push from their label (also would've helped if it was released a year earlier, like it was supposed to be), because this is rockin', heavy commercial rock and roll; not metal but not Trixter either ... 1st track, "Raise A Little Hell" is very commercial, as is "Head To Toe" (one of my faves), but the rest is raw, in-your-face rock and roll. Included is one emotional power ballad which doesn't detract from the flow of the album. Only track I could lose is maybe "What's That Smell", but some may like it. Parts of it remind of Skid Row, other parts of Ratt, but with a gutsy lead voice, and truly crunchy guitars, this album stands the test of time. It's rare, but worth getting ... it's a gem!"

Almost too classy to be called "Sleezy"

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 08/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite their name, Dutch band Sleeze Beez had more in common with arena rocking bands like Def Leppard and AC/DC than with Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd, and other sleaze rock bands. I actually avoided this band for a long time thinking they were going to be too sleazy for my tastes. What a cool surprise this band turned out to be.



1992's Powertool is the band's second release, and it's about as much fun as a rock & roll album can be. Sleeze Beez take the basic Sunset Strip hair metal formula and give it the kind of polish and class that only a European band can provide for a very melodic, very rockin' end result. This is what Def Leppard would have sounded like in the early 90's if they weren't obsessed with wimpy ballads. There are some really memorable rockers on this album, including Raise a Little Hell and Out Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, and the ballad I Don't Want To Live Without You probably would have been a top 20 hit if it had been released just a year or two earlier.



If you're looking for true sleaze rock, I don't think this band qualifies. If however, you're a big fan of the 80's hair metal scene and are looking for another great melodic rock album, you'll want to grab a copy of Powertool right away.



NOTE: Wounded Bird reissued Powertool in 2008. Like all Wounded Bird reissues, the album has not been remastered and there is no bonus material. It's nice to see the album back in print, but given how easy (and cheap) it is to find used copies of the original release I have to wonder why they bothered reissuing it when they could have done everyone a favor and reissued their hard-to-find 3rd album Insanity Beach.

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