As requested, here’s a rarity, and a good one. It’s the only album from CHYLD, the band put together by great Scottish hard rock singer Steve ‘Hamie’ Hayman and guitarist Michael Hough at the end of 1993.
‘Hamie’ is of course – at the time – former HEAVY PETTIN’ frontman, who established in the U.S. first in Nashville and then North Carolina, where he met Michael Hough. Guitarist from the Christian metal scene, Hough was member of underrated melodic hard rockers THE CREEK, and worked in AGE OF FAITH alongside Dann Huff and other GIANT members.
Hamie & Hough didn’t care of the alt & grungy sound ruling the industry in the mid-Nineties, and wrote a bunch of songs in the style they love: timeless melodic hard rock. With former THE CREEK drummer John Harwell on board, the result was their indie CD titled “Saints and Sinners“, very well produced and packing some hot rockin’ tunes.
This is 1990-1991 sounding American Melodic Hard Rock driven by crunchy guitar riffs, Hamie raspy vocals, with great hooks, melodies and layered harmony vocals from all members. The choruses are not in the anthemic ’80s style, but built around catchy hooks which give ’em a more timeless feeling.
Highlights include the groovy ‘Alive and Kickin’, ‘Sacred Ground’, the pretty awesome midtempo ‘Ride Like The Wind’, and ‘Lay Your Guns Down’. Our favorite tough is the hidden AOR gem ‘Rainin’ In My Heart’ akin 1987 Whitesnake. There’s great ballads (not power) in the acoustic ‘Take These Wings’, and the Great White-esque bluesy ‘Blame It On Love’.
Widely unknown by many fans of the genre, CHYLD’s ”Saints and Sinners” will surprise you at first listen. A very limited edition, the CD is so rare that even the band members doesn’t have a copy. While a digital copy of ”Saints and Sinners” circulated among collectors and on the internet, this is the first time you see it in HQ lossless FLAC.
CHYLD was originally a late ’80s collaboration between Hamie and guitarist Damon Johnson (later Alice Cooper, Black Star Riders, etc). In November of 1990, Johnson secured a development deal with A&R at Virgin Records America, who convinced him to assume lead vocal duties and change the band’s name to Brother Cane – releasing 3 albums in years to come.
Hamie retained the name CHYLD, and entered a collaboration with guitarist Michael Hough, that ended in the recording of ”Saints and Sinners”. Some of the songs here feature songwriting contributions from Johnson, as were penned with Hamie in 1990.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01. Alive and Kickin’
02. Rainin’ in My Heart
03. Take These Wings
04. Sacred Ground
05. Blame It On Love
06. Ride Like the Wind
07. What She Needed Most
08. Lay Your Guns Down
09. Say a Prayer
10. Waitin’ For You
Chyld – Saints And Sinners 1995, MP3+FLAC
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