KORITNI – Game Of Fools [Bad Reputation Records reissue + bonus tracks] (2013/2024), MP3+FLAC

Some records just hit you in an instant, never to get off your mind again. This is the case with KORITNI 2009’s second album “Game Of Fools“, reissued 2024 by Bad Reputation Records now including 3 bonus tracks and featured in exclusive at here.

Led by singer / songwriter Lex Koritni, this Aussie band music is all about having a good time: timeless riff-driven rock n’ roll. Producer Anton Hagop did a great job getting the best out of these guys, and legend Mike Fraser‘s mixing abilities are, as usual, superb, obtaining a lively feel.

From the opening riff of first track “155” right to the softly sung ending of the brilliant “The Devil’s Daughter” there is a not a dull note in sight. The songwriting is clever and spiced up with a lot of fine details, the band sounds great with a varied guitar set-up sound, and above all shines Lex Koritni‘s unmistakably raspy and powerful voice, which is up there with all the all-time greats. This guys got it all in his lungs; the straight-ahead rockers, the radio-friendly ballads (“You vs. Me” and the aforementioned “Devil’s Daughter”), or the ‘simple’ blues (“Deranged”), it is pure rock ‘n roll.

And we haven’t even listed all the highlights on ”Game Of Fools” yet, which include the ecstatic “By My Side” and especially “Tornado Dreaming”. The later is split into two songs / tracks, although we recommend listening to it as one song – an epic about life, which makes you cry and smile with its changes in mood and ‘oh so true’ lyrics!
Actually it is this “Tornado Dreaming” song(s) which makes this CD nothing short of a 2000’s cult album.

Koritni sure as hell wear their influences (mainly AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, plus other Eighties bands) on their sleeves, but they do it with such a passion for their music that it seems impossible not to like them. More proof? The bonus tracks are covers of ’80s classics – from Bon Jovi to Michael Jackson.

01 – 155
02 – Stab In The Back
03 – Roll The Dice
04 – V8 Fantasy
05 – YOU VS ME
06 – By My Side
07 – Deranged
08 – Nobody’s Home
09 – Game Of Fools
10 – Keep Me Breathing
11 – Tornado Dreaming
12 – Tornado Dreaming II
13 – The Devil’s Daughter
BONUS TRACKS:
14 – I’ve Had the Time of My Life [B. Medley & J. Warnes cover]
15 – Thriller [Michael Jackson cover]
16 – Wanted Dead or Alive (Live acoustic) [Bon Jovi cover]

Lex Koritni – Vocals
Eddy Santacreu – Lead Guitar
Luke Cuerten – Rhythm Guitar
Matt Hunter – Bass
Chris Brown – Drums

MP3 FLAC