D’OR is a hard rock band from Switzerland, whose debut album ‘Veni Vidi Ignis’ was released in 2022…
…featuring a sound that the likes of Guns N’ Roses and Skid Row made famous at the tail end of the eighties. And if you listen closely to the lyrics, you will hear many, many lyrical references to sleaze, glam, and hard rock bands from the eighties – and of course, I’m not gonna tell you every single one, but I will tell ya, the first six words of the albums opening song references two of the greatest genre-defining bands ever! So strap yourself in for an adrenaline-fuelled and electrically charged forty minutes of high octane heavy-hitting sleaze rock. ‘Veni Vidi Ignis’ opens with the title song ‘Veni Vidi Ignis’ – a full-on and raucous romp of rampaging rock! The intense energy is phenomenal, with the singer’s throaty rasp of a vocal delivery perfectly suited to this type of down ‘n’ dirty sleaze. What a breathless opening! D’OR have launched their debut album in sparkling style, keeping the old school flavor to the fore with ‘Scream’ – its slower tempo, highly menacing intro planting a little fear in the minds of listeners. But that’s what ‘Scream’ is all about – fear and menace – the band heightening the levels of both, forcing many listeners to dive for cover, hiding behind sofas and trembling with terror!
The band hit the accelerator and motor on with the lively and up-tempo ‘Jack-In-The-Box’. Maintaining the album’s super sleaze streak, ‘Jack-In-The-Box’ remains in a fearsome mood, keeping those listeners who dived for cover pinned behind their sofas. Yet with all this fear and menace hanging around, the melodious intent is incredible. So basically, you can have the jitters while the band litters five-star heavy hitters all around – each and everyone loaded with an anthemic party feel, leaving you totally puzzled; should I be scared, happy, or overjoyed! I’d say a combination of all three – for this is the future baby! D’OR immediately lifting the mood with ‘Future, Baby!’ – a raucous romp of hard-rocking rock ‘n’ roll. The faster pace, the lighter vibe, and the punchy rhythm are all gonna lift you up and want to rock and roll all night like it’s 1975 and you’re a glam rocker dressed to kill!
With the party atmosphere now in full swing, ‘Dancing’ is gonna have everyone spilling onto the dance floor, strutting their stuff like its Friday night at the local club – the band delivering a rousing soundtrack to every dancer throwing their shapes. This is one party where the dancing never ends, D’OR a relentless music machine delivering one of the most entertaining and infectious listening experiences ever! Without dropping the intensity, the band power on with ‘Flashback’, a heavy hitter that majestically stamps its authority with a foot-stomping rhythm. More in your face than anything heard before ‘Flashback’ is a party igniter, getting the most tired of party-goers back up on their feet – no electric shock needed! Toning down the party vibe just a little, ‘Electric Shock’ launches forth with an ’87 Alice Cooper feel, the king of shock rock a major influencer on an infinite number of bands. ‘Electric Shock’ has an electrically charged aura, the energetic buzz ripping straight through ya, leaving you in a heightened state of jubilation.
Picking up the pace and roaring into life, ‘Mr. Madman’ strides boldly forward, adopting a mid to high tempo, delivering a crescendo of hard-hitting sleaze rock that continues the album’s exhilarating listening experience, and insanely infectious intent. D’OR are well on their way to punching a big hole in the worldwide hard rock arena and screaming “Grüezi” at everyone – the band giving the middle finger to the aging American glam rocker who claims “rock is dead”. No, it ain’t motherfucker, it’s well and truly alive, D’OR is testament to that! Keeping the tempo high and the energy higher, ‘Rage Unbound’ is a bouncy and bombastic romp to get the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing. With its rabble-rousing nature bringing forth a rebellious streak, Swiss-based fans may have an overwhelming desire to flush their toilets after ten o’clock at night – an action commonly misinterpreted as illegal! But I thought it was a fun urban myth, and one that accurately sums up the rebellious nature of the band! Anyway, the album’s final song is here – and amazingly, a rock album comes to an end without a single ballad in sight! Not that ballads are a bad thing, it’s just customary (usually) to include at least one. D’OR bringing the curtain down on a breathless ride of rock with the most melodic song on offer ‘The Ticket’. So there’s just enough time for one last sing-along, to show off your rock ‘n’ roll dance moves, and party like it’s 1999…
Overall, a lively and boisterous charge of energetic hard rock to make you wanna stay up all night and party from dusk to dawn.
TRACKLIST
Veni Vidi Ignis
Scream
Jack-In-The-Box
Future, Baby!
Dancing
Flashback
Electric Shock
Mr. Madman
Rage Unbound
The Ticket
D’OR: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Metalapolis Records
Category: Album
Country: Switzerland
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire, and Metal-Roos.
