Hinder, 'Take It to the Limit'

Channeling Guns N’ Roses, without the bullets

By Tamara Palmer

Special to Metromix

The buzz: These Oklahoma rockers sold more than three million copies of the 2005 debut “Extreme Behavior,” largely on the back of the power ballad “Lips of an Angel.”

The verdict: “Take It to the Limit” makes the band’s love of all sounds Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe even more transparent (the title track even features the Crüe's Mick Mars). Problem is, the members of Hinder don’t exactly have the charisma and individual personalities of their forefathers. They have technical ability for sure, but it’s hard to find a spark in songs like “Up All Night,” the aforementioned title track or the macho single “Use Me” because it’s all been done before. And better.

Did you know? The band has a pre-show ritual of drinking a special cocktail created by guitarist Joe “Blower” Garvey. The “Blomb” is a potent mix of Red Bull and Jägermeister.