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Vision has a sound not proliferated since David fronted Van Halen and Bon led AC/DC By Nick Keppler Vision No Regrets (independent) Here's something I hadn't heard on a newly released album in a while: An unapologetically loud and twirly guitar riff, followed by a sneer-y female voice snarling, "Oh, yeah! Hell, yeah!" which leads into a series of one-two-punch lyrics about guitars, kicking asses, and being a girl who'll kick someone's ass for touching her guitar. It's how No Regrets, the debut album of the Naugatuck-based Vision opens—with three distinctly '70s aspects: the fancy-pants guitarwork, the self-referential rock and roll lyrics and the pop feminism. Tracks like "Rock Starr" and "Party Song" have the spirit the titles would imply, and the album has the requisite power ballads. "It is sort of a throwback," says guitarist/general band-leader David Vignola. "This is not a modern rock vibe. I think there's been a demand for this sort of music, even when grunge came and went." Vignola says he and his bandmates—clad in black jackets and Celtic crosses in the photographs in the CD booklet—are the type of 30- and 40-somethings who never stopped listening to Van Halen and AC/DC. It's easiest, perhaps, to compare Vision to Heart, the Wilson sisters-led '"female Zeppelin" of the '70s, given that the band is loud and three fifths of it is female. Vignolas says he gets that comparison a lot. Vision started in 2006 with a simple goal, Vignola and his wife Jules (Vision's bass-player and back-up vocalist) "wanted to do original stuff, no more, no less...we had been playing in different cover bands and I had gotten tired of the cover scene." Vignola thought that he'd lose the regular gigging schedule he'd developed in the Naugatuck River Valley but "it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. A cover band, or any band, in the local bar scene isn't going to play for more than 30, 40 people, and the music we're doing is getting a good response...I know I would rather play our own songs for 20 people than play Bon Jovi songs for 400 people." They have two central bases in the area; the first is Cook's Cafe in Naugatuck, which books them monthly. The second the Vignolas' home (also in Naugatuck), where the installation of a home studio—a full, professional studio, not a bunch of gadgets plugged into a laptop—was a catalyst for the CD and the band. It would be a rock and roll haven if not for one thing. "It's a residential neighborhood," says Vignola. "So that means we can only play until 7 or so."

"No Regrets" is the self-released debut album of Vision, a Hard Rockin` 5-piece based in Naugatuck, Conneticut. Expecting downtuned riffs, growly/screamo vocals and the like?Then move along, please! Vision have their feet firmly planted in that Loud & Proud decade, the `Eighties; no apologies and, of course, no regrets. Crunching guitars and fist-pumping anthems are the order of the day here, but this is hardly a nostalgic look back, or even an homage, This band play the music they love best, in spite of the latest "Here today, gone later this afternoon" trends. The band is: vocalist Michelle Privee, guitarist Dave Vignola, bassist Julie Vignola, drummer Diane Colano, and keyboardist/guitarist Joe Johnston. "No Regrets" was written, produced, recorded by the band at their own Vision Studios, which is an actual studio, not the laptop and plug-ins set-up that passes for most "home studios" these days. The songs? As described by the band: "If AC/DC and Joan Jett were to have a love child and allow Motley Crue, Van Halen and Metallica to babysit, the result would be Vision". That pretty much sums it up quite nicely. But as I said, this is no tongue-in-cheek retro Rockers` wet dream. Vision has crafted 11 high quality tunes filled with catchy riffs, clever hooks and melodies, flashy yet tasteful guitar solos [remember those?], kick ASS rhythms and well thought out lyrics, all delivered with the passion of a band who truly love and believe in what they do. Among the highlights for me are the opening track, "Don`t Touch My Guitar" [apparently based o an actual incident; when Michelle sings "And don`t think I can`t beat your ass just` cause I`m not a boy", you BETTER believe it, Sonny Jim!], "Rock Starr" [about quitting your day job and becoming a Rock star; sounds good ME!], "Line In The Sand", "Party Song", "All About You" and the title track. Hell, a lot of these songs could be radio hits if there were still any radio programmers out there with the balls to play this kind of music. You could go a long way towards rectifying that situation by checking out the bands` website and purchasing their CD, as well as their other merch, or [if you`re fortunate enough to be in the area], see them live. Two enthusiastic horns up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!