NOW!
Audio Porn is a project formed by vocalist and songwriter Azriel St. Michael and drummer Byron Black, both former Jezebels Kiss members (hence the name for this album), and Hydrogyn guitarist Jeff Westlake. The band name and album art reveal the sound they’re going for: traditional Eighties hard rock on the sleaze side.
Generally, Audio Porn is good at it too. St. Michael is a superb vocalist and his writing style fits the genre, he’s got a dirty mind and a potty mouth. Jeff Westlake is your basic no-frills hard rock and metal guitarist. He lets it rip and your pleased. Press materials suggest there’s a modern tone, but it’s not here. Jezebel’s Kiss fits the classic genre of melodic sleaze hard rock.
The album gets off to an average start; you could easily take a pass on Deeper Than the Bone and Cry Me River and miss nothing. The underage ogling of Sweet 16 and naughty voyeurism of It’s Not a Dream offer good melodies and hooks. From Above the Stars to the end its a mixed bag of milder melodic rock with sparse moments of a heavy edge. Cut might be hardest song of the lot to finish.
In the end, this album makes me wonder if St. Michael and Black are simply trying resurrect the familiar sound of Jezebels Kiss, for new success, under a new moniker with the new blood of Westlake. Regardless, for classic Eighties melodic hard rock, it’s an entertaining listen. Recommended.