Review: The Treatment – ‘Power Crazy’

“I adore bands that play a pub like a stadium”. One of the most energetic bands that you are likely to witness on the current UK live circuit, there is no hiding place at a gig by The Treatment. Always on the front foot, they are in the audience’s faces from the off, and never let up. They still have that youthful exuberance, which makes it hard to believe that they have been around for some time now. What was it, seven years ago that they crossed the Atlantic to open for KISS and Motley Crüe in outdoor amphitheatres? Line-up changes have brought a stop-start approach to their career, but now, with new vocalist Tom Rampton on board, momentum is with The Treatment once again. ‘Power Crazy’ is album number four for The Treatment, and arguably their strongest to date. Yes, there is a massive AC/DC influence splattered throughout the twelve tracks, and yes, some people have suggested what’s to stop you just listening to AC/DC, but there are tonnes of vim and vigour on ‘Power Crazy’, as well as lashings of passion and heart, all of which make it nearly impossible to ignore. Besides, how many Aussie bands drink at the AC/DC well but don’t suffer the same accusation? Is it because The Treatment aren’t actually Australian that they don’t get a pass? Anyway, what can you expect on ‘Power Crazy’? A good time, for starters. It’s no-frills rock n’ roll, with a little bit of boogie thrown in, all topped off with a head of punk attitude. You can also expect riffs by the bucket load. Opener ‘Let’s Get Dirty’ has a killer head-bobbing groove, fuelled by the stellar drumming of Dhani Mansworth (as is ‘Hang Them High’), whereas ‘Rising Power’ is all about the twin guitars from Tao and Tagore Grey. ‘On The Money’ brings the boogie with a great toe-tapping beat from Mansworth and partner in crime, bassist Rick ‘Swoggle’ Newman. ‘Bite Back’ is vintage ‘DC, whereas ‘King Of The City’ is a daring throwback to classic NWOBHM. You easily could have caught this from the stalls at any ‘eavy metal gig in the ‘80’s. Rampton is a real discovery, the slight Bon Scott rasp is killer. Check out the whorehouse blues of ‘Luck Of The Draw’. He never strays into Joel O’Keeffe screaming territory, which means the tongue-in-cheek lyrics are easy to identify, just as they are on the aforementioned ‘On The Money’. ‘The Fighting Song’ opens with the dogged lyrics “City to city, coast to coast, some people love us, some think we’re a joke, it doesn’t matter, it’s all the same to me”, before adding during the call to arms chorus, “Caught in the storm, but we carry on, called every name since we were born, but we’re still here and we’re going strong”. The Treatment are still here and still very much going strong… and no doubt, still pissing people off! More power to them I say. Available March 22nd through Frontiers Music Review: Dave]]>

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