Radiance
Radiance gives The Dead Daisies a substantial hard-rock sound, with thick guitar riffs, a firm rhythm section and Glenn Hughes' expressive voice at its centre. The performances are confident, and the blues and funk touches give the familiar style some useful movement. The writing is less consistently distinctive than the sound, leaving a few songs more impressive in execution than in lasting impact.
Face Your Fear opens with a strong bluesy guitar figure and a heavy rhythmic foundation. It establishes the album's physical appeal quickly, although the chorus is less memorable than the riff. Hypnotize Yourself makes a more dynamic impression, with Hughes helping the song move beyond the weight of its backing.
Shine On is particularly effective. The quicker movement, strong vocal lines and well-placed guitar solos give the performance a clear lift. The solos enhance the songs without dominating them.
The title track takes a slower route. Its measured groove gives Doug Aldrich's guitar work a substantial setting, with the blues-influenced solo adding a useful change of pressure. The song shows how much the band can achieve without simply increasing the speed.
Courageous and Kiss the Sun suit Hughes' voice especially well. The former brings a lighter funk influence into the heavier sound, while the latter gives the groove another strong guitar-led shape. His higher register adds character to the choruses without making the rest of the band feel secondary.
The problem is that several of the mid-paced songs work within a very similar range. The powerful, clear production cannot give every chorus the same staying power.
Roll On supplies a gentler ending, with the ballad giving the singing and guitar another kind of space. It is a worthwhile performance, even if a stronger final push might have suited the album better. Radiance remains an enjoyable hard-rock record, carried by its playing and best riffs rather than a completely consistent set of songs.
