EZoo - Feeding the Beast (2017)

Graham Bonnet is a singer that has seen his share of success throughout his career. The 69 year old has fronted bands with some of the world’s best guitar players including Richie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker and Steve Vai. He has collaborated with others including Slash, Vivian Campbell and Bruce Kulick.

Now he can add Italian guitar player Dario Mollo to that list. The two originally teamed up briefly in 2001 and again in 2004 for Mollo’s project, Elektric Zoo. In 2017 they have teamed up yet again and recorded an album as the band Ezoo. Feeding the Beast is a showcase of Bonnet’s vocals combined with Mollo’s guitar work.

The opening track is “You are Your Wallet.” It is an upbeat song with great vocals and guitar work. This is a perfect track to start the album. The next song is a guitar instrumental called “The Flight of the Sapini.” This song showcases Mollo’s guitar expertise. His guitar work seems to be influenced by Eddie Van Halen and “Flight of the Sapini” has the sound and style of Van Halen’s “Eruption.” The album continues with tracks like “C’est la vie” and “Guys from God.” One of my favorite tracks on the album is the title track, “Feeding the Beast.” It is a melodic song with heavy guitar riffs and Bonnet’s vocals are amazing in this song. Another one of my favorite tracks is “Motorbike.” Bonnet’s vocals are amazing in this song. You would never know that he is almost 70. Damn he belts out some amazing notes in this song. Also included on the album are two of Bonnet’s classic tracks he recorded with Rainbow, “Eyes of the World” and “Since You Been Gone.” I have to say that “Since You Been Gone” is one of my favorite tracks from the Bonnet years with Rainbow. The vocals sound as good in 2017 as they did in 1979.

Feeding the Beast is another great album by one of rock’s finest front men. After listening to this album multiple times I am still blown away by Bonnet’s vocals. Mollo’s guitar work is easily on par with some of Bonnet’s earlier Axe Men. I have to definitely recommend this album to fans of Bonnet. If you are a passive fan of Bonnet’s work, trust me, Feeding the Beast will make you want to go back and rediscover his earlier work. Feeding the Beast will be released on June 2 via earMUSIC.

TRACKLIST:

01. EZoo - You Are Your Wallet
02. EZoo - The Flight of the Sapini
03. EZoo - C'est la vie
04. EZoo - Guys from God
05. EZoo - Feeding the Beast
06. EZoo - Eyes of the World
07. EZoo - Colder Than Cool
08. EZoo - Too High to Be Falling
09. EZoo - Motorbike
10. EZoo - Since You Been Gone
11. EZoo - Don't Look Back
12. EZoo - Coda