CONEY HATCH – Friction [Rock Candy remaster +1 bonus] 2015, MP3+M4A+FLAC

Oh yeah, “Friction“, by CONEY HATCH is one of the hidden Melodic Rock / AOR gems from the middle ’80s now wonderfully digitally remastered from the original tapes by Rock Candy Records.

Coney Hatch is mostly known for their early hard rock albums, but “Friction” is a Melodic Rock diamond that deserves a prominent place in your collection.

The Toronto based 4 piece Coney Hatch were one of Canada’s Rock brightest hopes during the mid-Eighties. They impressed fans and critics alike with their rambunctious brand of hard rock and melody, a sound imbued with a certain, some might say typically Canadian, quirkiness.
Catchy, for sure, but also containing twists and turns that suggested the band had been students of a number of hard rockin’ maple leaf acts from April Wine to the riff hungry swagger of Triumph and all points in between.

“Friction” was Coney Hatch’s third and, as it turned out, their final album. It was a record designed to infiltrate the mass market, with catchy hooks and a selection of punishing riffs with a commercial ‘Americanized’ feel.
Issued in 1985 and crafted by renowned British producer Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Y&T, Lynch Mob) the record was received with great critical enthusiasm, but hit a brick wall at their record company.

With Def Leppard and Bon Jovi receiving major promotional pushes, Coney Hatch were sidelined and left, without the financial budget, to fight their own corner.
It was a crushing disappointment leaving the band in a state of confusion and, ultimately, unable to carry on.
Their legacy, however, continues to grow, with many citing “Friction” as their finest and, possibly, one of the best Melodic (Hard) Rock albums released that year.
Revisit the likes of ‘This Ain’t Love’, the awesome ‘Fantasy’ and ‘Burning Love’ for proof positive that this record delivered on all fronts.

For years, Coney Hatch’s “Friction” was almost impossible to find on CD, and shouted for a proper remastering.
The Rock Candy treatment from the original master tapes is really good, as the album was originally recorded at different sessions and there was a slightly difference between some tracks mastering.
Now, perfectly balanced, properly remastered and with the bonus track “Fuel For The Fire” (B-side), this Rock Candy reissue finally does justice to this great mid-80s Melodic Rock album.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

01 – This Ain’t Love
02 – She’s Gone
03 – Wrong Side Of Town
04 – Girl From Last Night’s Dream
05 – Coming To Get You
06 – Fantasy
07 – He’s A Champion
08 – State Line
09 – Burning Love
BONUS TRACK:
10 – Fuel For The Fire

Carl Dixon – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Andy Curran – bass, lead vocals on 3
Steve Shelski – lead guitar, vocals
Barry Connors – drums, percussion

MP3 FLAC M4a thx M/B for Rip!