'The Secret Art' is the 3rd album to be released by L.A band Dame Fortune and is their first for 5 years. Produced by KISS associate, and one time Cinderella drummer, Kevin Valentine, the album is a slice of classic hard rock that will appeal to fans of Motley Crue, G n’R, Aerosmith and the like.

David Blake’s vocals lie somewhere between Motley Crue’s Vince Neil and Warrant’s Jani Lane- in a good way- and when you mix this with the band’s hook -laden and catchy songs, you get an album that many a bigger band would be proud of.

'Perpetual Emotion Machine' was co-written with Richard Davis, a member of The Eagles touring band, and is without a doubt the catchiest track on the album, bassist Jeff Wire’s vocals giving the track an almost Dogs D’Amour feel to it. 'The Days Are Just Packed' has a pop rock feel to it that reminds me of Cheap Trick, whilst 'Santa Ana Blues' feels a bit like an Alice Cooper in a blues mood - none of these comparisons should be taken in a bad way as the band have created a great album in 'The Secret Art'.

Other highlights include 'I Only Miss You When I Breathe', 'Secret Rulers (of The World To Be)' and the album’s ballad 'Good For What Ails You'. 'A Special Place' is a dark, heavier number written about a drug dealer who contributed to the death of a friend of the band and believe me, they are angry!!

This is an album that should appeal to a number of rock fans, but will need to be well promoted in order to find it’s audience.

****

Review by Nikk Gunns