THE GRAVEYARD TRAIN – The Graveyard Train [Bad Reputation remaster +5 bonus], MP3+FLAC

Upon the demise of Angora, singer John Corabi found success with The Scream and Motley Crue. His former Angora bandmates Frank Scimeca (bass) and Robert Iezzi (drums) formed THE GRAVEYARD TRAIN, hooked up with legendary producer Tom Werman, released a killer self-titled debut album that no one heard and quickly vanished. It was 1993, and this type of timeless bluesy hard rock was ignored by the music industry at the time.

Simply put; “The Graveyard Train” rocks with a mix of BLACK CROWES, CRY OF LOVE, ZEPP and a bit of CINDERELLA circa ‘Heartbreak Station’. And Scimeca & Iezzi may not have convinced Corabi to join, but they found an Ace in awesome singer Todd Griffin.
This is the now not easy to find Bad Reputation Records remastered CD reissue including 5 juicy bonus tracks, and it’s a great chance to hear this criminally underrated album. With a bluesy rocking sound, The Graveyard Train came across as both honest and sincere — resulting in the band appearing more mature than the majority of their peers. Even though they weren’t a melodic hard rock / hair metal band per say, with the long hair and ties to the ’80s metal scene, Geffen didn’t put a dime for promotion when this CD got released in 1993.

You’ll be hard pressed to find an album that starts off in such consistent fashion, as the first six songs rival that of any group. “Down To The Wire” quietly shuffles along before it kicks into gear with some stomping blues rock during the chorus, and continues going back and forth like that throughout. “Hell On Wheels” finds the group following a more typical hard rock formula, but Todd Griffin‘s solid voice sets it apart.
“Memphis #999” continues the trend and incorporates killer guitar and harmonica work into the mix, “Medicine Man” is an uptempo acoustic rock hybrid that shows yet another side to The Graveyard Train, and “Graveyard Boogie” is a darker number that lives up to its title.

All of that happens during the first half of the CD — and the second half doesn’t let up!
We find a very good ballad, and some Black Crowes inspired numbers, but almost every track impresses. As for the bonus tracks, “Killing Time” completely rocks and contains a slight hint of R&B, while “Manchild” could be a hard rock version of The Doors.

You can’t go wrong with “The Graveyard Train”: this is timeless rock n’ roll, with emotion, and Werman cleverly didn’t polished too much the guy’s sound – all feels lively raw!
Highly Recommended

01 – Down To The Wire
02 – Hell On Wheels
03 – Memphis #999
04 – Walkin’ The Line
05 – Medicine Man
06 – Graveyard Boogie
07 – In The Orange Grove
08 – Salvation Psalm
09 – Spirits A Movin’
10 – Love & War
11 – Change The World
12 – The Reason (I Love You)
13 – Breakout
BONUS TRACKS:
14 – Freedom Cry
15 – Killing Time
16 – Manchild
17 – Fire In You
18 – Freedom Cry (Alternative Version)

Todd Griffin – lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica
Bruce Draper – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
Robert Iezzi – drums
Frank Scimeca – bass, backing vocals

John Purdell – hammond organ (5, 7 & 12)
Tom Werman – percussion, producer

MP3 FLAC