Musical Style: Hard Rock	Produced By: Tim Bushong
Record Label: Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA
Year Released: 2009 / 2023	Artist Website:
Tracks: 12	Rating: 90%
Running Time: 52:52

I always appreciate a band that is not afraid to reinvent itself.  I see it as a sign of confidence, maturity and creativity, a willingness to branch out and broaden your horizons with the end result attaining your musical potential.  Bride best exemplifies this with the transition it made from the heavy metal and thrash of earlier releases Live To Die (1988) and Silence Is Madness (1989) to the blues based hard rock to Kinetic Faith (1991) and Snakes in The Playground (1992).  Of equal consideration is Deliverance, whom got its start with the melodic speed metal and thrash to its self-titled debut and sophomore effort Weapons Of Our Warfare (1990) prior to pursuing a technical metal heading on follow up releases Stay Of Execution (1992) and Learn (1993).
  
Another band to successfully change its sound is Wilmington, Delaware based Main Line Riders.  Releasing its debut full length Shot In The Dark on Retroactive Records in 2007, Main Line Riders initially played late eighties Sunset Strip sleaze style metal not unlike LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Guns N’ Roses, Junkyard, Hanoi Rocks and Kix.  A change in vocalists from the departed Mike Mayhem to newcomer Shawn Edward Browning, however, prompted Main Line Riders to pursue an AC/DC influenced brand of metal and hard rock on its 2009 sophomore effort Worldshaker (also Retroactive).

Initially a three-panel digi-pak release, Worldshaker was re-issued by Retroactive Records in May of 2023 in the jewel case format with a multi-page mini booklet (courtesy of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics).  Lyrics and liner notes are easier to read thanks to a larger font as opposed to the fine print of the digi-pak version.  Lone complaint regarding the booklet is failing to mention the musicians performing on the album while also not including the original ‘thank you’ credits from individual band members.

If drawing upon an AC/DC based sound, a complementary vocalist is of necessity and such is what we have in front man Shawn Edward Browning, whom brings a similar type of raspy grit and snarl as Bon Scott or Brian Johnson.  Opener “It All Ends Tonite” finds Browning in top form, lending his expansive vocal style to a razor edged guitar and pumping bass line stomper full of hooks galore and unremitting energy.  This one sets the stage for the brilliance to follow.  Lyric snippet:

Heavy metal lightin’ sell your soul
All in the name of rock and roll
Shootin’ star gonna burn out fast
In the limelight black hole

Put on your suit, put on your tie
Dazed and confused got to wonder why
Slave to the grind, power lust
It’s all a dirty lie

“Hell Aint’ A Good Place To Be” opens its first minute in a bottom heavy and plodding mode reminding of the doom-ish.  It picks up at once, with an upbeat allure garnering its remaining span as elevated guitar melodies and laid-back harmonies converge to impel the boisterous scene.  Similar to much of albums material, soloing draws upon the blues.

With drum solo to start, Through With You” leans towards the commercial found in its non-stop clapping hands, reverberating backing vocals and borderline radio friendly melody.  The ‘why do I do what I don’t want to do / I just wanna be through with you’ refrain borders on the mesmerizing with its smoothly flowing acquiescence.  X-Sinner cannot help but come to mind.  Lyric snippet:

Saw things I never seen before
I could never fill my cup
It took me down for the last time
Rock bottom only lookin’ up

Why do I do what I don’t wanna do
I just wanna be through with you
Ya try to sell me lies that I know ain’t true
I just wanna be through with you

Album takes a ballad based turn with “Comin’ Home”.  It brings the needed ingredients accordingly, relaxed with its acoustic sentiments and gut-level vocals but pronounced at moments notice with periodic rhythm guitar outbursts.  I do not know who handles soloing , but the guitar work of Cliffy and Matthew Kenenske always stays true to the song.

“Broken Hearted” impresses as one of albums heaviest.  Song starts slow and ominous, gradually building form to trenchant guitars and chugging low end ahead of morphing into an upbeat rocker, sassy with its caustic vocal flavorings but every bit engaging from the manifest hooks pouring forth.  Heavy-set backing vocals further lend to the persuasive environs.  Lyric snippet:

Graduated hard knock school
And so I saw the real me
Yeah, I saw the real me
And it left me brokenhearted
And that’s the way it should be

Now I got it worked out
I’m the first one to stand up and shout
Hey look at me goin’ down on my knees
I know what it’s all about

“Power Surge” delivers hooks in abundance.  Starts with the refrain - gripping, dominant and unapologetically driven - but culminates with George Creshine’s churning timekeeping.  Buzz saw guitars lead the way to albums best stretch of earthy lead guitar.  Albums crystalline production reveals equally to see crisp rhythm guitar and punchy bass define the mix.

Albums title track dominates with an equally powerful form.  It revels in anthem-like riffs, non-stop intensity and relentless form as the band hits a tight as it gets groove.  “Worldshaker” otherwise revels in understated catchiness and gritty blues based aura that makes albums better material separate.  Lyric snippet:

Life taker, deal breaker
You kneel before the real worldshaker
Muckraker, love faker
Can’t run from the one worldshaker

Heartbreaker, shadow maker
All concealed, revealed to the worldshaker
Partaker, forsaker
Face down all bow to the worldshaker

Worldshaker takes a musical detour on aptly entitled “Rhythm-N-Blues”.  The song stays true to its namesake, revealed in how it captures an immaculate joining of groove-laden momentum and laid back essence that point towards the blues driven.  My original review best sums things up when describing “Rhythm-N-Blues” as ‘an army of metal guitar playing Elvis’ descending upon Las Vegas at once’.

I identify with “Chrome & Steel” as albums best track.  Song draws in at once with its start to finish pull you in impetus - as manifest in the smoothly flowing ‘nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh- backing vocals - and caustic old school AC/DC like swagger.  Focused guitar rhythms drive the extended instrumental section.  Lyric snippet:

Warrior born of fire
Lion in his heart begins to roar
Soarin’ on wings of eagles
More than a conqueror

A hot wind cascading
Danger is a distant care
Son of Man in the den of sin
No power in hell can compare

“It’s A Revolution” closes things in the form of a straightforward and no frills hard rock.  What you see is what you get: big guitars, big drums and even bigger hooks.  Guttural backing vocals shore up the unwavering refrain.

Album also includes a pair of well-done covers off Shot In The Dark.  First “Throwin’ Bones To The Wolves” shines with a catchy, mid-paced impetus drenched in the blues and inherent to plenty of of ‘heh-heh-heh’ backing vocals, while “We Are The Ready Ones” stays true to the original in exuding abundant energy alongside gang shouted vocals and introductory drum solo.

If interested in a metal and hard rock release that brings front to back musical consistency then look no further than Main Line Riders sophomore effort Worldshaker.  Likewise, those into an AC/DC influenced sound will also find a lot to like here.  As for Main Line Riders, give the group credit for reinventing itself in such a successful manner.  Equal credit to Retroactive Records for the jewel case re-issue with the professionally done mini booklet.

Review by Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “It All Ends Tonite” (3:25), “Thrown’ Bones To The Wolves” (3:06), “Hell Ain’t A Good Place To Be” (4:30), “Through With You” (4:50), “Comin’ Home” (5:19), “Broken Hearted” (4:51), “Worldshaker” (5:02), “Power Surge” (4:18), “Chrome & Steel” (4:43), “Rhythm-N-Blues” (3:10), “We Are The Ready Ones” (5:00), “It’s A Revolution” (4:40)

Musicians
Shawn Edward Browning – Lead Vocals
Cliffy – Guitars
Matthew Kenenske – Guitars
Tim Bushong – Bass, additional Guitars, Drums & Percussions
George Creshine – Drums
Aaron Bushong – Additional Drums