Welcome to Greg Hampton Productions

Strutter mag: RAZOR BALL

RAZORBALL ‘RAZORBALL’ (MASCOT RECORDS)
RAZORBALL is a band the pure Rockfans will absolutely love
because they go back in time with their retro groovy 70s
Hardrocksound as if it was still 1975. The band is
made up of 4 musicians whom already made a name in the
business, because included in the line-up are producer/guitarist
GREG HAMPTON (major producer of many big names),
producer/guitarist REEVES GABRELS (TIN MACHINE/DAVID
BOWIE), lead singer ROD JACKSON (SLASH’S SNAKEPIT) and
drummer/keyboardplayer STEFAN SVENSSON (HAMMERFALL,
GRAHAM BONNETT…). The CD this 4-some recorded is filled with
high class original 70s Hardrock that sounds like a mix between
GLENN HUGHES, MOTHER’S FINEST, LENNY KRAVITZ and
WOLFMOTHER. Without a doubt, this is a CD, which will be praised
by the Rock Press and I completely agree, although for the more
Melodic Hardrock orientated fans it might sound a bit too
groovy here and there. Best comparison I can come up with is
SOUL SIRKUS meets BOOGIE KNIGHTS, yet less melodic. If this
interests you, better check out their
site at: http://www.myspace.com/razorball
(Points: 8.2 out of 10)
Best Regards,
Evert Wubben

Band: Razor Ball
Title: Razor Ball
Label: Mascot Records
'Razor Ball' is the self title debut from the LA based Razor Ball, a
band that was formed by the multi talented
producer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist Greg Hampton,
the equally talented guitarist/songwriter and producer Reeves
Gabrels, drummer and keyboard player Stefan Svennson and
completing the line up former Slash’s Snakepit
vocalist Rod Jackson.The band's debut is a mix of hard rock, blues
and funk with great results. As things get underway with ‘Sure
Won’t Hurt You’, a track that shows off Hampton’s talents as a
multi instrumentalist as he play guitar bass, piano and percussion
on the track, together with the blues rock vocals of Jackson this is
a great opener and will be loved by lovers of good no nonsense
classic bluesy rock. The next track ‘What’s The
Big Secret’ brings in those funk tones I spoke of earlier. A track
that reminds my a little of Dan Reed Network meets Living Colour
and has a definite 80's feel to it. The band keep the funk train
rolling with one of my favourite tracks on the album ‘Dirt Ta Dust’.
After the funk it's time to bring in the hard rock aspects with
another of my favourites ‘Danger (How Stupid Are You)’, which
starts off with a bluesy refrain but then the guitars just take over
and make it their own, with Jackson showing why Slash’s ‘Aint Life
Grand’ sold some 580,000 copies as he lays down his finest vocals
so far. Fans of that album will just love this track. The hard rock
sound is carried on into ‘What Do U Want From U’ and the
excellent ‘Temptation (Walks In)’ before things slow down a touch
with the terrific ‘Where Your Lucky’. A more melodic rock style
track paves the way for abstract sounds of ‘All Waiting 4 U’, a mix
of jazz funk guitar and has a retro feel that comes straight out of
the 70’s with its Sitar and weird sampling (catch Hampton’s dog
Sparky barking and the cat which I’m afraid comes unknown).It's
back to the more traditional hard rock with ‘2 Busy Livin’, I say
traditional but there are still a few surprise elements in there such
as a little Country and Western which is also thrown in to the mix.
All out track of the album for me has to be the rock ‘Decadence’,
a real down to earth track with Jackson’s vocals shining through
the gritty guitars of Hampton and Gabrels, this is sleazy good time
rock n' roll at its best. It's time to bring things down just a little with
the melodic tones of ‘Turned On The Moon’, a real show stopper
this one with Hampton shining again with some fine
uncomplicated riffs that really make their mark on the song. The
album closes with ‘End Of The Line’, a real bluesy end to a great
album of mixed styles and influences that works really well, a
great debut. Track listing: 1. Sure Won't Hurt You 2. Whats The Big
Secret 3. Dirt Ta Dust 4. Danger (How Stupid Are You) 5. What Do U
Want From U 6. Temptation (Walks In) 7. Where Your Lucky 8. All
Waiting 4 U 9. To Busy Livin 10. Decadence 11. Turn On The Moon
12. End Of The Line

GREG HAMPTON