(AOR/Melodic Hard Rock) Roulette - Lifeline - 2001, APE (image+.cue) lossless

Roulette hail from San Francisco, California and are a bunch of guys that know how to set pulses racing. They have carved out a name for themselves by touring in recent years with the likes of Y & T, Pat Travers, Keel, Ratt and Montrose. They have that aura about them that sets them apart from the rest, variety is the spice of life, they say, and Roulette have plenty of that. Just spin the disc and you will be rewarded with track after track of well played rock music. These four guys have their own style, though along the way you will find a similarity to White Sister, Baton Rouge and Le Roux. The opening keyboards of “No Telling Lies” will have those hairs up on the back of your neck, then the guitars break in and you get that excited feeling. This is quality, the kind that has you singing along to the harmonies on the second chorus. Hot on the heels of this huge opener is “She gets what she wants”, is a strutting masterpiece that has a funky bass line and a massive chorus, we are bordering on anthem rock here with big guitar solos and pounding drums. “Victim of Innocence” is a quirky guitar/keyboard affair with aggression, just listen to that chorus and those cat and mouse keyboard antics. Moving on to “Party Dress”, this is thunderous melodic rock that really hits home, whilst “Call Me” is totally different to what we have heard so far. The band have captured an authentic feel by introducing a little bit of vinyl “crackle” at the start of the song and it all goes to make a wonderful rock outing with some great guitar playing. “Def, Dumb & Blonde” has a touch of humour and, like “She gets what she wants”, has a strong bass line that provides the foundation for some wicked guitar solos. “Lost & Found” is a strong guitar orientated rock song, then the band move into a more polished sound in the tune “Hanging”, a song that boasts some pleasant keyboard melodies. The band retains a strong keyboard presence on the last couple of tracks, a great move that keeps your interest one hundred per cent. The title track “Life Line” belts along at a cracking pace with a rich keyboard sound, what a penultimate track! To round off the album a nice up-tempo power ballad called “One more chance” is the order of the day.

Roulette is a gambling game, but “Life Line” is an album that will always win, over and over again.

Phil Bright – Bass, Vocals (Vicious Rumours)
David Cremin – Lead Vocals, Guitar (ex Baton Rouge)
Gil Gagnon - Keyboards, Synthetic, Vocals (toured with Whitesnake)
Jimmy Rehn – Drums, Vocals (formerly of 415 featuring Eric Martin)
Chuck More – Guitars, Vocals (From the same school as Joe Satriani)

Produced by Jesse Bradman (Innocent, Aldo Nova, Saints and Sinners)