Shock to the System

Canada always had a great tradition in Melodic Rock, TOTO, HONEYMOON SUITE, CONEY HATCH etc. etc. and WALL OF SILENCE are also one of the representatives, which joined the record labels in the late 80s/early 90s, in this case the major A&M. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to find some information on WALL OF SILENCE, so I'm sorry to say that I don't know whether "Shock To The System" had been the debut or there had been some following releases.

Produced by Mike Slamer (CITY BOY, STREETS, STEELHOUSE LANE), one remembers bands like DEF LEPPARD, CONEY HATCH or others of this genre; the quintet offers just simple Melodic Rock with some very fine hooks, good melodies and impressive choruses, mainly balladesque or in midtempo and sometimes in a hard way, for example, they push the accelerator pedal in songs like "Skin And Bones" and especially in "Nobody's Hero".

WALL OF SILENCE are able to make their songs dynamic and not too clammy, "Addicted", for example, is a first class Melodic Rock hit, the ballads "It's Only Love" and "Stop The Rain" are very fine, exactly like the previous called, more harder "Nobody's Hero" and the thrilling "Edge Of A Heartbreak".

"Blood Is Thicker Than Water" with its chorus part remembers me of Christian music and I have found some parts of the lyrics, which are considered with Christianity, but this hasn't to be bad...

Everybody who likes the bands above and listens to some good Melodic Rock can look for "Shock To The System", but I can tell you it is not easy to find...

Brian Malone: lead vocals
Jim Huff: guitar
Stuart Zaltz: keyboards
Scott Lucas: drums
Tim Harrington: bass

Additional Musicians:
Sascha Red Sky: backing vocals
Mike Shotten: backing vocals
Al Van Wart: backing vocals
Matthew Gerrard: bass

Produced and mixed by Mike Slamer
Engineered by Jeff DeMorris and Mike Slamer
Assistant Engineering by Tom Trafalsky, Paul Edwards and Keith Kresge
Recorded at Eastern Sound, Toronto, Ontario
Mixed at Eastern Sound, Toronto, Ontario and Video Studios, LA
Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, New York, USA