Collateral ‘Collateral’

Since releasing their ‘4 Shots!’ EP in November of last year, a lot has happened for Ramsgate’s Collateral – being tipped by many within the UK rock press as one of the main bands to watch, being added to the bill at Ramblin’ Man Fair and supporting Jon Bon Jovi on his European summer cruise to name but a few.

And now approaching the end of 2019 comes through the review copy of their much-anticipated debut album scheduled for release in February.

The first thing to note is that credit is due for avoiding the first trap which can be experienced with debut albums. When looking forward to the release of a new album there is nothing worse than discovering that an album is little more than a re-release of an earlier EP with the addition of a few new songs. Not so ‘Collateral’. The only song repeated from the ‘4 Shots!’ EP is ‘Midnight Queen’ complemented by 8 new songs.

From album opener, and first single ‘Mr Big Shot’ (with it’s incredible bass sound) through to closer ‘About This Boy’, the quality of the material is very high. ‘Promiseland’ demonstrates that Collateral can riff with the best of them and craft a perfectly building song. The ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’–era ‘Merry Go Round’ follows before leading into a run of three very strong songs - ‘In It For Love’, the non-lullaby that is ‘Lullaby’ and the outstanding ‘Midnight Queen’ which deservedly earns a second airing here. Any self-respecting ‘80’s soft rock style album wouldn’t be complete without a BIG ballad to wave your lighter or mobile phone to (for today’s generation of fans) and ‘Get Back To You’ doesn’t disappoint. ‘Won’t Stop Me Dreaming’ picks up the pace again before ending with the countrier rock sounding ‘About This Boy’.

Make no mistake, everything about ‘Collateral’ is big – the production, the guitars (Jackson, what else?), the bass, the drums, the vocals, the choruses, the melodies, the harmonies and the ambition. Had Collateral been playing in the late ‘80’s there is no doubt they would have out-played, out-sold and out-rocked many of the acts who influenced them. And as for their influences? There are too many to name. The obvious comparisons with early Bon Jovi are there (to which I suspect Collateral were exposed on heavy rotation while gestating in the womb and ever since), through Bad English, John Waite (solo), Loverboy and a host of other acts to Rick Springfield and The Eagles. Their softer country-rock leaning sound which was much in evidence on their EP is still there, but on balance on this album the band have allowed their rockier side to come to the fore. This works for me.

For lovers of AOR and 80’s softer rock this album provides much to feast and gorge on, while leaving plenty to come back for later. Collateral are exceptionally good at what they do. Speaking to Rockfiend last year, Collateral frontman Angelo Tristan was clearly surprised by the reception to their debut EP and the hype which had built. On the basis of ‘Collateral’, Collateral have followed through and delivered. Whether this style of rock will ever reach the stadium heights that it did in the ‘80’s, Collateral proudly bear the standard and will give it their best (big) shot.

Collateral are:

Angelo Tristan (vocals and guitar)
Todd Winger (guitar)
Jack Bentley Smith (bass)
Ben Atkinson (drums)

‘Collateral’ will be released on 21 February 2020.