Reviewed by Kit Burns
99 Burning/Midnight in America
It’s actually already been over 20 years since grunge spawned from the beer-soaked, rain-choked streets of Seattle. By my definition, it’s already ‘classic rock.’ However, you wouldn’t know it from 99 Burning, a rather intense neo-metal band that delights in the darkness of Alice in Chains and the heavy melodicism of Guns N’ Roses.
Fronted by former pro wrestler Don Eminizer, 99 Burning is about as macho as today’s rock gets. The guitars roar with the ferocity of rampaging lions, especially on ”She’s My Nightmare,” wherein the big riffs nearly swallow you; imagine Jane’s Addiction with a real set of balls. “She’s My Addiction,” on the other hand, brings out the AOR toe-tapping side of the band’s potent rhythm section. “Cat” recalls Guns N’ Roses (or just Slash) with its reptilian riffs. There are some smoking solos on that cut. “Lonely Skies” punches the skin with its pulsating bass lines and huge chunks of guitar sharpnel.
No surprise that Eminizer is a novelist as Midnight in America has a literary quality to its mood and tempo. Now you don’t have to take college courses to read music.
