Soul Doctor – That’s Live!

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Metal Heaven
Produced by Soul Doctor

After four studio albums Germany’s Soul Doctor, fronted by Fair Warning vocalist Tommy Hart, have compiled a live album from recordings made in Europe over a tour period supporting A Fist Full of Dollars and latest album Blood Runs Cold from 2005 to 2007.

The sound quality of the release is outstanding and the varying sources of the songs collected here is not evident at all. But, just like at Firefest IV last year (from which the opportunity to record their one-off Led Zeppelin medley should have been taken), the newer songs from the Blood Runs Cold album don’t quite stand up against material from the first three records. While the title track and Laugh In The Face of Danger, for example, are passable good-time rock songs, when song like Good Times Slippin’ Away and Eatin’ On Me are played alongside them their groove-less weaknesses show up.

Fans of Soul Doctor, and light-hearted hard rock in general, really can’t fail to enjoy what’s on offer here, and this is certainly the best currently available introduction to the band. After this the newly issued double-CD set of the first two albums should be the next port of call, then A Fist Full of Dollars, then the newest album. Adding extra value to the European release for existing fans, a special edition includes a four-track bonus CD of alternative studio versions of songs from Blood Runs Cold (Danger actually being a version of Laughing In The Face of Danger).

Soul Doctor aren’t the most original rock band in circulation by any means, but they are good fun, they’re a lot more authentic than most younger bands trying to replicate the same style, and their sound is captured perfectly here. This is as good as a live album can sound.

“ light-hearted hard rock ”

Tracklist: Blood Runs Cold / Under Your Skin / Good Times Slippin’ Away / Temptation / See You In Heaven / Eatin’ On Me / Laugh In The Face of Danger / Goodbye / Unspoken Words / Get It On / What Do U Want / Soul Doctor / Just Can’t Get Over You
Bonus CD: Revolution (Different Version) / Danger (Different Version) / Justine (Acoustic Version) / The Ocean (Acoustic Version)

Written by Andy Lye
More: Hard Rock, Live Albums, Soul Doctor