Fate was one of my favourite melodic rock/heavy metal bands a couple years back, off the strength of both their 1985 debut album, and this, their 3rd full length 'Cruisin for a Bruisin'. Released after the departure of one-time Mercyful Fate guitarist Hank Shermann, this one surprisingly doesn't deviate too much from their earlier work, which was surprisingly, given Shermann's metal credentials, pretty much melodic rock in the most commercial, poppy sense. This one actually has some of their more memorable tracks from their melodic rock period (first three albums - they would harden significantly with their next), and showcases a pretty talented (if questionably ambitioned) band with a knack for writing that awesome, though admittedly sometimes funny hook-reliant 80's melodic pop metal, along the same lines as Giuffria, or Night Ranger. I think this is what kids these days try and call "cheesy", though what do they know, right?
01 Beneath Da Coconuts 02 Love On The Rox 03 Knock On Wood 04 Lovers 05 Dead Boy 06 Cold Meat 07 Babe 08 You Got A Friend 09 Lock You Up 10 Cupid Shot Me 11 Diamond In The Rough 12 Send A Little Money