A few lineup changes have altered THE STAR*RATS sound a bit. The rock sleaze is still abundant although Magnus, their new vocalist, has brought a more modern quality to their tunes. Surprisingly, Magnus' voice has a vibe reminiscent of Joe Leste of BANG TANGO and LINKIN PARK’S Chester Bennington. The band had some adjusting to do since the departure of their previous vocalist Soren Nico Adamsen who Brian Rademacher has compared to Sebastian Bach. After listening to THE STAR*RATS latest album, "Screw the Consequences," it's apparent that the band isn't scared to take risks, but does their third release ascend to the level of their previous work? Let's find out.

The 14 tracks on "Screw The Consequences" fuse together sleaze, modern rock, and metal. "Who Cares," provides a furious opening with THE STAR*RATS signature power and precision on display. Then it's on to the thunderous "I Could Die Here," which made me want to bang my head, but ultimately plods along and misses the mark. Guitarist, Post, shreds his solo superbly in this track. "Loosin' it" boasts an adrenaline filled bass line, and a few of guitar riffs that sounded lifted from Ace Frehley's "Snow Blind". "Get Nasty," is a prime example of just how sleazy THE STAR*RATS could be. If I was a DJ at a strip club, this track would be in my regular rotation while the girls on stage get "a little bit freaky."

Not to be confused with the MOTLEY CRUE track of the same name, "Raise Your Hands to Rock" is right on par with BUCKCHERRY'S best stuff. The accelerated rocker is a lot of fun, and they even call out the RAMONES with a "Hey Ho Let's Go!" for good measure. Surgeon General warning: this track WILL make you dance around and go crazy. Magnus shows us what he's really capable of here, occasionally hitting a few high notes and altering his vocals a few times. There's a gang vibe in this track that reminds me of the first time I heard MOTLEY CRUE's "Girls, Girls, Girls."

You'll notice a modern rock feel on "Fakin' an Inside." It's an aggressive track, but it abandons the punk infused sleaze rock in favor of a sound more akin to DISTURBED. It was like putting on a pair of cardboard underwear, it just doesn't feel right. Magnus sounds authoritative on "Brand New Soul." With lyrics like "...listen honey cause I got fucking news for you..." this is the type of loud, crusher that your masochistic eardrums will lust after. "Another Tragedy," which is basically a hard pop song, is the finest and most satisfying track on the album. To hear a song succeed as a hard rock and a pop song simultaneously and be graced with an astounding guitar solo all in one track is a total win.

When the band does take risks on this album, they work. Instead of having to hear more generic rock crap hit big on iTunes, "Another Tragedy" needs to be heard. Even though "Raise Your Hands to Rock," is this album's crown jewel, "Another Tragedy" will go down as their underrated gem. From the onset, "Mr. Whattfuck," sounded promising, but the song never rises above mediocrity when it could have been the next "Mr. Brownstone." Magnus and the boys get a chance to really show their stuff on a cover of "I'll Be There For You." It's not a song you'd expect from them, considering the hard rock sound you'll hear on the previous tracks. It's ON when they get to the lyrics "You say you've cried a thousand rivers," and then once the chorus hits, it's a total balls out BON JOVI tribute. THE STAR*RATS do it exactly how BON JOVI doesn't do it anymore, and that is HARDER and FASTER! Nice work!

On "Boozehound" Magnus' warns, "I dont give a shit what critics say," but I'm offering my opinion anyway. THE STAR*RATS are trying to truly define themselves and "Screw the Consequences" is a step in the right direction. Braun's wicked drumming rules the album, Post is frenetic on guitar, and Kass' bass work bolster this album to the next level. Magnus' voice often has a gruff quality to it, and aside from a few moments on "Another Tragedy," the band should capitalize on harmonizing more often. There are several tracks here that are largely unimpressive, however there are also several that are incredible. The album is worth it merely for "Another Tragedy" and "Raise You Hands to Rock." If you're in the mood for some loud, modern, heavy rock (think LINKIN PARK and PAPA ROACH) mixed with some old school sleaze, then "Screw The Consequences" and pick up the damn album!