SANTERS IV

Hard Reviews by Martin Popoff

Fresh Metal

Bareknuckle/Avex (Japan)

History lesson time: Santers were a highly capable and confident, highly commercial and incredible Canadian hard rock sity-ation from the early '80s. Purveyors of three slick, drinkable, Def Lep-probable records, Santers slinked off after semi-profitable success due to their label folding and leader Rick Santers getting a high-exposure, heart-searchin' touring gig with buds Triumph. It's 14 years hence, and Japanese heroes Avex have splendidly rocked tha' house, offering all three crafty, crafted releases on CD for the first time, each with a bonus track, plus the long-lost fourth, damn well completely carved to perfection Santers spread called Top Secrecy. Top Secrecy is a little limp and poppy but hey, it's Santers, so it's well done (these guys record and write like bloody friggin' star-crossed lovers). However, it is a progression into perfumed ponderousness and we cannot be happy. But the bonus tracks are lusty, and Rick has written a detailed band history with wistful smarts (plus there's a bunch of new photos). Bottom line: any fan will be well served, and those who crave to know the roots of the present AOR boon/boom, let's just say, these Canucks were the masters,  Rating 7.5