Big Guns – On Dangerous Ground + Stick Em’ Up (FnA Records Reissue Review)

🎸 Band: Big Guns
💿 Album: On Dangerous Ground + Stick Em’ Up
🏷 Label: FnA Records
📅 Release Year: 2018 (Originally released in 1994 + 2007, reissued together by FnA in 2018)
🕰 Content: Band’s first full-length album (On Dangerous Ground from 1994) and their 2007 follow-up EP (Stick Em’ Up)—now bundled together in one sweet release!

A Little History on Big Guns

If you've ever wondered what the U.K.’s answer to Danger Danger might sound like—look no further than Big Guns. These guys were a full-blown Melodic Hard Rock/AOR powerhouse, blending catchy hooks, slick riffs, and soaring vocals into a sound that hits all the right notes for fans of bands like Baton Rouge, Dokken, Lion, Praying Mantis, and Little Angels. And if you’ve been in the collector scene long enough, you’ll know just how in demand their stuff has become—original copies fetch serious money, and for good reason.

While grunge came crashing through the U.S. in the early '90s, burying a lot of melodic hard rock in the process, that scene was still alive and kicking out east—Japan, to be specific. Always a haven for guitar-driven, melodic music, Japan welcomed bands like Big Guns with open arms. The band signed with EMI’s Japanese subsidiary Zero Records and released their debut album On Dangerous Ground in 1994. It was polished, hook-filled, and totally unashamed of what it was—melodic hard rock done right.

And if there’s one thing Big Guns truly knew how to do, it was make the most of a twin guitar attack. Where a lot of bands might waste the potential of having two guitarists on a record, Wayne Lawson and Phil O'Dea delivered the goods. Their playing is smooth, soulful, and packed with melodic solos that don’t rely on flash or gimmicks—just pure skill. No unnecessary whammy dives or tap-tap-tapping here—just killer tone and great phrasing. It’s one of the things that makes this band stand out from the pack.

After the debut, Big Guns went out and earned it on the road, headlining shows all across the U.K. and sharing stages with heavy hitters like Magnum, Thunder, The Choirboys, Ted Poley’s Bone Machine, and Brian Robertson. Early reviews were strong, and the buzz was real.

In 2007, they returned with a follow-up EP called Stick Em’ Up, giving fans six more tracks of that classic Big Guns sound.

Now, thanks to FnA Records, both releases are finally available in one reissue—16 tracks total, bringing together everything the band ever recorded. That’s On Dangerous Ground (1994) and Stick Em’ Up (2007) all on one disc—essential listening for any melodic hard rock fan or collector.

Big Guns formed in February 1994, rising from the ashes of Mai Rouge. Founding members Robin Ward (drums) and Wayne Lawson (guitar) brought in Ian Taylor (Discovery) on vocals, Neil Brocklebank (Artisan) on second guitar, and John Ward (Castle Crew, Jokers Wild) on bass. After the debut, Phil O'Dea stepped in to replace Brocklebank, solidifying the lineup that would deliver those razor-sharp twin guitar harmonies.

If you’re into big choruses, great songwriting, and melodic solos with serious heart—Big Guns might just become your next favorite find.

Main Review / Track Highlights

From the very first riff of the opening track Living It Up, Big Guns grab you by the collar and let you know exactly what kind of ride you’re in for. That riff? Absolute melodic bliss. It’s catchy as hell and sets the mood instantly. The vocals start low, building tension, until that chorus hits—and when it hits, it hits HARD. Try not singing along... seriously, I dare you! The song's guitar melodies are tasteful and tight, but the highlight? That sweet, melodic solo that just soars and sends chills down your spine. This is how you open an album, folks.

Next up is Live A Dream, and it keeps the energy flowing like a freight train of melodic hard rock goodness. More killer riffs, another huge chorus, and a solo that’ll have you reaching for your air guitar. What really stood out for me in this one, though, was the drums—tight, punchy, and played with precision. They add just the right amount of edge and help carry the track’s groove straight through.

Track 3 is Live and Learn—the first of two ballads on the release, and it’s a strong one. Kicks off with some warm acoustic guitar work and builds with emotional vocal delivery and some seriously tasteful melodic licks sprinkled throughout. The solo may be short, but it absolutely nails the emotion of the song. This is what a good ballad is all about—letting the music breathe and feel.

From there, it’s straight back to full-on melodic hard rock greatness. Mistreated brings one of the grooviest bass lines on the album, and when that solo drops? You’ll be grinning ear to ear. Love Gets In The Way brings even more guitar magic—at this point I don’t know how these guys kept cranking out such perfect solos over and over again, but I’m not complaining!

Then comes Heart and Soul, and I gotta say... this title is so fitting, because this entire release is packed with heart and soul. You can hear it in every riff, every vocal line, and especially in the solo on this one. It’s melodic as hell, full of feel, and one of my favorites on the record.

Picking Up The Pieces is the second ballad here, and for me personally, this one wins out. The vocal performance is absolutely top notch, and while Live and Learn might have slightly stronger lyrics, this track just hits differently. The acoustic guitar combined with melodic flourishes gives it a lush, emotional tone that really spoke to me. And of course, that burning hot guitar solo seals the deal!

Then we reach Let’s Get Crazy... and holy hell. This is THE highlight for me. It’s pure melodic rock/AOR perfection. Starts with a killer drum intro, then BAM—in comes that glowing keyboard line, and suddenly it’s 1987 again. This track oozes joy, energy, and all the things we love about the genre. Sing-along chorus? Check. Killer solo? CHECK. Emotional punch? Triple check. This song is what melodic rock dreams are made of. Favorite solo on the whole release, no contest.

City Lights and Slipping Away follow, rounding out the On Dangerous Ground portion of the release. They’re decent tracks, with some nice playing and good moments, but they didn’t quite hit me on the same level as the rest of the album. Still, not bad by any means—just not as explosive.

Then comes the Stick Em’ Up EP from 2007, and despite the long gap in time between releases, Big Guns didn’t miss a beat.

Intelligent and Blind kicks off the second half strong with another slice of late-’80s-inspired hard rock. That guitar solo? 🔥. Women follows and quickly became my favorite track from the EP—catchy chorus, great riff, killer vocals. It's all here. Pure sing-along material, and in the best way possible.

Tracks like A Little Bit of Love, Money Talks, and Don’t Push keep the energy going with more big choruses, tasty licks, and solid songwriting. Nothing feels phoned in—just well-crafted melodic hard rock with a lot of attitude and heart.

Finally, One More River wraps the whole release up in style. It starts off with one of my absolute favorite riffs from the band—chunky and heavy, but still melodic and right in the pocket. The vocals shine here, and both the verses and chorus have that undeniable sing-along vibe. The solo? Short, sweet, and hits you right in the feels. A strong, confident closer that leaves you wanting to start the whole album over again.

Final Thoughts

If you’re into melodic hard rock with big choruses, heart-fueled solos, and just the right touch of AOR—this release is absolutely for you. Both On Dangerous Ground and Stick Em’ Up showcase a band that knew exactly what they wanted to sound like, and they delivered the goods with passion and precision.

The vocals? Stellar.
The guitars? Out of this world.
The songwriting? Catchy, tight, and full of soul.

There might be a couple of tracks that didn’t fully land for me, but overall? This is a damn strong release and an essential pickup for fans of the genre.

Final Score: 8 / 10
Must-hear tracks: Living It Up, Let’s Get Crazy, Picking Up The Pieces, Women

💿 Where to Buy & Follow

Want to grab a copy and crank this melodic gem loud and proud?
You can order the reissue right here via FnA Records:
👉 Buy from FnA Records

Want to dive deeper into the band’s info and discography?
Check out Big Guns on Discogs:
👉 Big Guns on Discogs

🎥 Follow Me (Robin) for more Rock & Roll action:

I'm always talking music, collecting CDs, vinyl, and cassettes, and sharing hidden gems. Join me on my musical journey here:

📺 My YouTube Channel – Robin Hard Rock & Metal
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Let’s connect, talk rock, and keep the music alive—see you out there, and thanks for reading! 🤘🔥

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