Crazy Lixx – Thrill of The Bite
Review By: George Andritsakis
Review Score: 9.5
Recently I was in a conversation with several musicians and metalhead hangers-on and was asked if I could start a band, what would it sound like. Without missing a beat, I quipped “I want it to be a cross between the thunderous Hammerfall, the high IQ lyricality of Sabaton, the raw emotion of Beast in Black, the cryptic darkness and heartbreak of HIM, and the raunchy sleaze of Crazy Lixx”. I might or might not have thought about this a time or ten. Out of all these marvelous acts though, it’s Crazy Lixx that gets me the most pumped up into a heavy metal frenzy like something that just crawled out of the 80’s Sunset Strip scene.
I’m Gunna start off by the biggest single on the album so far, “Little Miss Dangerous”. This track hooked me like a fish. There hasn’t been a single day since it’s release back in October 2024. I remember where I was when it came out too, I was overseas in Greece, and one of the internet radio stations that I was listening to spun it. From that instance I couldn’t get that gnarly chorus out of my head. When I got back to the United States, one of the first things I did after kicking the jetlag was hop in my Jaguar, roll ALL the windows down, and crank this sucker up as high as I could. I’m pretty sure I made my entire neighborhood wet the bed with my blasting down the streets towards the highways.
The video release for it was phenomenally done as well, with a dance acquaintance of mine, Luna Hedin of Sweden, playing the title role of Little Miss Dangerous. Very reminiscent of a lot of 80’s Hair Metal videos like Alice Cooper’s Bed Of Nails or Def Leppard’s Women.
“Highway Hurricane” is the album opener, and it gets the sonic journey off to a fist pumping, chanting fury reminiscent of something that could come from the likes of RATT or Quiet Riot. “Who Said Rock N’ Roll Is Dead” is a loud, reverberating, hook filled reply to Gene Simmons of KISS when he replied in an interview that Rock N Roll is dead. The boys from Malmo (not to mention Goteborg and other points in Europe) beg to differ, Mr. Simmons. Just because KISS might be done musically, doesn’t mean it’s taking the entire genre down with it. “Call Of The Wild” showcases Jens Lundgren and Chrisse Olsson’s insane talent on the guitar, along with Danny Rexon’s slick vocalization. “Recipe For Revolution” sounds like it belongs in the soundtrack to Rocky IV or a heavy metal version of West Side Story.
“Midnight Rebels” takes one back to the glory NWOBHM days of pre-Pyromania Def Leppard with one of the catchiest choruses around and Danny Rexon oozing attitude and panache. “Hunt For Danger” is the closest thing to a ballad you’ll find on here, and I’ll be damned if I haven’t played it on repeat for a good chunk of the day while writing this review, sounds a lot like someone I know personally. “Stick It Out” is another banger on this album that made me raise the horns repeatedly. This song reminds me so much of all my relationships in my teens and 20’s when I just didn’t know better than to stick around, no matter what was going on around me. Made for some “interesting” times, to say the least.
The Swedes know how to rock, and Crazy Lixx further proves this point. I can’t wait to see them for the first time this year, at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood, CA. Just the chance to hear a lot of this album and other classics like “Rise Above” or “Girls Of The 80’s” in that hallowed venue will be an unforgettable night. As far as the albums go, the Lixx show no sign of slowing down, and I’m dying to hear what’s next.
Genre: Hard Rock
Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Playlist:
1. Highway Hurricane
2. Who Said Rock N’ Roll Is Dead
3. Little Miss Dangerous
4. Call Of The Wild
5. Recipe For Revolution
6. Run Run Wild
7. Midnight Rebels
8. Hunt For Danger
9. Final Warning
10. Stick It Out
Line Up:
Vocals: Danny Rexon
Guitars: Jens Lundgren, Chrisse Olsson
Bass: Jens Andersson
Drums: Robin Nilsson