ALBUM REVIEWS

4Bitten NO MORE SINS ROCKSECTOR RECORDS 20.04.09 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk Unless you’re forming a tribute band then the first rule of naming bands is ‘Thou Shall Not Pun’ - the late great Richard Whiteley would be chuckling in his grave at this one. The story goes that the band members were trying to think of a name for their new musical venture; probably in the pub - this seems to be where all the best/worst (delete as appropriate) band names are conjured up. Somebody observed that there were four of them, and they were all ‘bitten’ by the rock bug – hey presto 4Bitten… Now, if a band had a terrible name, but the music was from the toppest of drawers, then you could forgive them. Unfortunately 4Bitten’s music is merely derivative one-dimensional rock. I’m sure they’re all very lovely people – indeed vocalist Fofi’s life story is an engaging one. She’s of Greek parentage but was raised in the States listening to American rock music and playing various instruments at school, but has also recently returned to Athens where she studied classical piano. But the music on this album holds no interest for me whatsoever. I listened to it several times trying to prise open an interesting angle or something with which to convey some perceptive insight into the album. Regrettably all I heard was bland cliché ridden pub-rock. It’s impossible to even single out best or even worst songs – all ten tracks just merge into one long dull dirge. Ultimately some people may enjoy listening to this kind of heavy rock stodge, but I always have to ask myself the question ‘what’s the point in listening to this again, when there are hundreds (if not thousands) of other more meritorious and deserving albums in existence?’ Steve Claire www.myspace.com/4bitten Email Links & Comments to the editor Check the latest album releases