Here They Go Again Atlanta GA

Here They Go Again

The Company Of Snakes

Steamhammer / SPV Records, 2001

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/06/2001

I'm used to record label hype but I've just received the lowestof the low in this tactic. In this particular case, SPV has gonetoo far and I'm about to call them on it.

The liner notes for the latest Company Of Snakes release Here They Go Again - Live acts as if the world has beensalivating in anticipation for this release. I get that impressionfrom the press release that states such rubbish as, "If you askpeople concerned professionally with the rock music scene which, intheir opinion, was the most important and influential line-up ofthe now defunct British heavy rock formation, Whitesnake, mostpeople would probably list the original line-up of David Coverdale,Bernie Marsden, Mickey Moody and Neil Murray. It was in thisconstellation which helped Whitesnake attain extraordinary successfrom 1978 to 1982, during which time the released such great albumsas Northwinds, Snakebite, Trouble [and 6 others]."

I admit that I grew up with the widespread commercial success ofWhitesnake in a culture that never heard of the band before 1984's Slide It In. I admit, fully, my bias in the "new"Whitesnake. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that I thinkthe press for this release is flat out stupid. In my opinion, andif "concerned professionally" means I have gotten money for writingabout music, I'm qualified, Whitesnake had zero success in theUnited States until 1984's Slide It In release and no widespread success until their1987 self-titled release. "Extraordinary success from 1978 to1982"? Hmmph.

So, obviously, since I made the mistake of reading the presspacket for this release prior to listening to the two CDs of thisrelease, I was in a foul mood. And hearing a band play materialthat sounds like Whitesnake just made my foul mood worse. The musicis executed rather tightly. Drummer John Lingwood, who the pressmaterial describes as "A popular artiste constantly in demand,whoxse curriculum vitae already included such names as ManfredMann's Earthband, Roger Chapman and Elkie Brooks," nails the twoand four beats with precision. Sorry, I've heard of the first ofthose three bands, but not the last two. Vocalist Stefan Berggrensounds, well, like Coverdale in a lot of spots.