Four years after Adrian Vandenberg made a spectacular comeback with Vandenberg’s Moonkings, the band returns with a sophomore album, simply titled MK II. Due on November 3rd through the Mascot Label Group, the disc has all the qualities of the debut: once again the four-piece band manages to create a perfect mix of vintage seventies hard rock and current styles of heavy rock. Adrian Vandenberg shines as a bonafide guitar virtuoso, while the rest of the band also delivers in spades. Yet MK II has even more to offer than the highly praised first album. It shows how the band grew into a strong unit during the world tours of the recent years. Watch a video for the song, Tightrope, below.
“The last few years have been very important indeed,” confirms Adrian Vandenberg, who previously gained world fame as the guitarist and songwriter of Vandenberg and Whitesnake. “We just got to know each other when we recorded out debut album. I think we all exceeded each other’s expectations. But you really get to know each other while on the road. It was then that I really became impressed by the abundance of energy that this band has. We tried to capture this on our new album. At the same time, we all grew individually. I am really amazed by the way Jan Hoving has grown even more in his role as a singer and as a frontman. I’ve played with the best bass players and drummers in my extensive career, but, with all respect, I dare to say that Sem Christoffel and drummer Mart Nijen Es form the best rhythm section I ever had the pleasure of working with.”
“The fantastic response to our debut received also gave us a major boost,” said Adrian. “We felt confident to loosen things up quite a bit. Sem and Mart really go for it of at the end of ‘The Fire’. Previously, I would have called for a fade-out in the mix, but this time we decided to keep it and put it on the record. It somehow reminded me of the ’70s Cream and Led Zeppelin jam sessions that nobody seems to do anymore these days. I allowed myself to rip all over the end section of If You Can’t Handle The Heat. I’ve always found that as a guitar player you should be able to tell a story in about twenty seconds, so this time it was great to break this rule for a change and let myself go completely. Never before in my career I have done this on an album. All in all, working on this album was a wonderful experience. The notorious ‘second album syndrome’ never reared its ugly head.”
The release of MK II will be supported with club tours and appearances on festivals worldwide. “I’ve been a professional musician for over forty years, but I am still as eager as I have always been and still have the feeling that I’m just getting started,” added Adrian. “I am convinced that we have many good years ahead with this band.”
MK II track listing:
1. Tightrope
2. Reputation
3. Angel In Black
4. The Fire
5. Walk Away
6. All Or Nothing
7. What Doesn’t Kill You
8. Ready For The Taking
9. New Day
10. Love Runs Out
11. If You Can’t Handle The Heat
One Response
I really enjoyed Adrian’s playing on the first Moonkings record. And I thought the songs were great. The singing, however, took me awhile to get into. The guys’ voice reminds me of the vocalist in Red Dragon Cartel with Jake E. Lee, and it took me awhile to enjoy that record, as well. I don’t know what it was about both of these guys’ voices, they just sort of irritated me at first. Hopefully, now that I am used to it, I will enjoy this record right away. Look forward to getting it!