Early in their career, Russia's
Gorky Park were an unashamed hair metal band -- full of anthemic numbers and even befriending
Jon Bon Jovi and
Richie Sambora, who co-penned a song for their 1989 self-titled debut. But by the time of their 1998 release, Protivofazza, the group had softened its sound considerably, so much so that most of the album's selections actually resemble
White Lion's more tender moments -- and with
White Lion being one of the more melodic/least intimidating hard rock acts of the '80s, that's saying something! A case in point is the album-opening "Jenny Loses Me," which features more keyboard than electric guitar, as well as such similarly styled ditties as "Little Asian Girl" and "Wannabee." There are only a few points where "the
Gorky Park of old" reappears (e.g., "Back Down to the Ground"), but for the most part, all the big riffs have gone bye-bye on Protivofazza. ~ Greg Prato