Review: Josh Flagg “Devastate Me”

Rock

We all love a Cinderella story, and Josh Flagg’s “Devastate Me” is the musical equivalent. Approaching songwriting like a prize fight, Flagg comes at you fast and furious but inside he’s doing it out of love for the sport. "I don't like the You-Me-Girl aspect to songwriting," Flagg says. "It's a little cloying. I wanted to take those same sentiments and subvert them. Take really cliché choruses, but have them, when you listen to the lyrics, turn out to be about zombies – or written from the perspective of a cancer cell. It's an interesting way to undermine the classic pop format. I mean, 'Bring Me Back To Life' is about a zombie looking for his girlfriend, more or less."

His songs are analogous to the cover art – sharp dressed and put together with style, but bearing a gritty interior that brings an enticing complexity to the composition. If you’re looking for comparisons, I would cite the Foo Fighters. The first half of the record is considerably stronger than the second half, with some knock outs like the fiery “Seeing Red”, which also has a bit of a Buffalo Tom vibe, the deliciously syncopated “Bring Me Back To Life”, and the chugging title track. The second half isn’t bad by any means, and features additional strong contenders like “Come Back To Me”, “Fair Is Foul” and the driving closer that will leave you wanting more, “Whatever Turns You On”.

“Devastate Me” is one of the more impressive debuts I’ve heard in some time and I am already waiting with eager anticipation to see how this artist matures on the follow-up. As Flagg says, “It's a fantastic contradiction: a breathtaking showdown that pits pop hooks against right hooks.”

Josh Flagg – Official site.

Review: Wigelius “Reinventions”

Melodic Rock/AOR

Who said an appearance on Swedish TV can’t lead to great things? Anders Wigelius is a smashing young vocalist who caught the ears of producer Daniel Flores when he sung the ubiquitous Journey anthem, “Don’t Stop Believing” on TV (see the performance here). Anders joined with his brother Erik on drums, along with Jake Svensson on guitars and Chris "Wielbass" Pettersson on bass to round out the line up for a band that would share his name.

Anders is a devoted fan of the classic melodic rock genre that had its peak in the 80s with bands like Richard Marx, Toto, Journey, and Foreigner. He honed his chops playing in an AOR covers band called Gamblers, before forming Wigelius.

Helped by the production talents of Flores, and mastering by none other than hard melodic rock legend Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), "Reinventions" is one of the most promising debuts in some time – it is a huge, energetic record that is just bursting with arena-ready rockers. Keyboards and guitars are front and center to deliver the catchy melodies. The record gets off to a blazing start with a run of strong cuts in the Survivor sounding “Angeline”, “Talking About Love”, “Do You Really Know”, and “Next To Me”. The band shows a grittier edge with “Piece Of The Action”. The back half of the album is not as strong, but certainly pulls its own weight and makes for a satisfying listen from start to finish. There is a refreshing acoustic break with the endearing “Love Can Be That Much”.

“Reinventions” was released in the US on July 2 and is not to be missed if you long for the days of 80s-styled pop rock.

Wigelius – More info here.

Melodic rock CD of the week: Jettblack

By Stephen Kasenda

JETTBLACK “Raining Rock” (2012)

'Raining Rock' is a valiant effort by the British glam hero, JETTBLACK, giving their fans an album full of variety. It is highly riff-oriented, but still accessible while retaining the raw and aggressive feel of the debut. In my first spins, I found that a couple songs just didn't work and perhaps were a little lower in quality compared to most songs on the debut. The title track, for example, made me wonder “is this really the best pick to start the CD? It seems kinda patchy”, but then after several concentrated listens, you'll find it's a galloping and energetic track - a great kicker!

'Prison of Love' is a beautiful commercial track and, together with 'Never Gonna Give It Up', you have the two radio gems of this album with big potential to score a respectable chart position in their home country. I admire the riffs in 'System' and 'Temptation', both are also very good songs, but 'Something About This Girl' and 'Sunshine' are even better. JETTBLACK pull up a nice ballad in 'Black Gold' but I have doubt in 'The Sweet and The Brave'.

If you can grab the limited edition, the bonus track, 'Weapon', is an ultimate track, worth every penny you spent, because it's one of the best tracks here, but all in all, you can't find any bad tracks here and it's a pretty good follow-up to the debut. Maybe I slightly prefer the debut, however I don't see no reason to not own this beast if you dig that album. Amazing stuff!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Jeff Litman "Over and Over" video apes Groundhog Day

Here is the new video for Jeff Litman's “Over and Over”, which painstakingly recreates scenes from the much beloved Bill Murray/Harold Ramis classic movie, Groundhog Day. Check it out and see if you can spot the original scenes (see the clip below for help!)

 

More info on Jeff Litman or this video project.

Review: Dan Miraldi “Sugar and Adrenaline”

Rock/Power pop

If there was ever an album title more appropriate, I’m not aware of it. Ohio-based Dan Miraldi’s second full-length release is filled with energetically sweet melodies. “Sugar and Adenaline” follows his full-length debut, “Thirsty”, and a couple of EPs entitled, “Tease” (reviewed here) and “Rock N Roll Band” (reviewed here).

“Sugar and Adrenaline” was inspired by life’s journey and by the people Miraldi’s has encountered along the way. Miraldi describes his music as “a very eclectic brand of rock and roll”, citing influences from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Ben Kweller and Jack White. You’ll hear him transition from 50s styled rock to modern rock throughout the new record, yet the magic is that Miraldi manages to somehow maintain his own identity.

Things start with the thumping “Few Rock Harder”, which is a punchy anthem with plenty of crunch and attitude – very Material Issue. But most important is the chorus hook that will have you humming for days. “The Runaround”, “Revenge”, and “Now Is The Right Time” are tasty numbers with smooth melodies and satisfying guitar riffs that sound very contemporary, but the surf organ in “I Fall In Love All Over Again” and the Monkees-like acoustic runs in “She Got Soul Part I” hark back to Miraldi’s love for vintage rock. And for you fans of the undead, there is a succulent morsel in “Vampire Girl” that is reminiscent of those haunting 50s tunes. Miraldi masterfully fuses the classic Bee Gees sound with Jack Johnson on the album’s contemplative closer, “The Many Shades of Blue”.

 “Sugar and Adrenaline” will be available July 17 – taste some of that sweet energy!

Dan Miraldi – Official site.

Review: Joshua Ketchmark “Dreamers Disease” [EP]

Rock

“Dreamers Disease” is the second release within a series of three EPs being completed by modern rocker Joshua Ketchmark. “Dreamers Disease”, dropping July 17, exudes more of an alternative country-rock feel, underscored by the Nashville flavored track, “Should Have Been”. The EP was recorded at 1 Tree Studio in Nashville and features appearances from Nashville players such as Tony Paoletta (Pedal Steal; Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt) and Dave Webb (Bass; Randall Bramblett, Sugarland). Inspired by short-lived romances and fervid moments when your childhood crashes head first into adulthood, “the Dreamers Disease” aims to capture the attention of youthful dreamers and hopeful wanderers alike.

The first single, "Saving Grace" is a summer anthem begging to be played on your next road trip. “Saving Grace” is laced with Bon Jovi influences, sounding like a leftover track from their “Lost Highway” sessions. “Mason Jar” is not as accessible in the melody department, but is a potent riff-oriented rocker in the style of Lenny Kravitz. As mentioned, “Should Have Been” is the song with the most overt country influence and this mid-tempo treat has a very satisfying hook. “Step Back” closes this EP with a breezy ballad that begins with some gentle strumming before expanding into an emotive epic.

Joshua Ketchmark – Official site.

Melodic rock CD of the week: Van Halen

By Stephen Kasenda

VAN HALEN “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” (1991)

"Standin' on the top of the world, let's give it all we got!" Definitely not an empty chants as Van Halen seized the top of the Billboard charts with "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" in 1991. This record marked the return of Van Halen to their guitar-driven roots and abolished synth sound in their previous albums.

The collaboration with DLR-era producer, Ted Templeman, was a big success, spawning many hits such as the electric-drill enhanced "Poundcake", the glaring piano-rocker "Right Now", and the punchy anthem "Top of The World". Not to forget the explosive "Judgment Day" and the groovy "Runaround" that added lots of value to this album.

While I enjoy many of Van Halen great songs from their Hagar-era albums, in my opinion, “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” is their best moment with Sammy and he's still one of the best singers around to this day. An essential album you should have!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Under Cover: Take Me Home Tonight

PK "Take Me Home Tonight" (Eddie Money)

High-energy, scrappy indie-pop quintet, PK, have premiered a cover of Eddie Money's classic "Take Me Home Tonight" with AltPress. Listen to their rendition of the song here. The band released their sophomore studio project, The Lost Boy Sessions on May 29th. Sonically described as "The Killers meet Vampire Weekend," PK has been compared to such acts The Cure, U2 and The Gaslight Anthem. ­­Purchase The Lost Boy Sessions on iTunes here.

When asked about covering the song, singer Travis Hawley, says, "It was actually the music video that inspired us to cover this song. Ladder hits, an empty stadium, a mullet and a howling sax solo. All the main ingredients for the best music video of all time. We attempted to take the 'be my little baby' part out of the song, but every time we'd mention which song we were covering to our friends, they would immediately break into falsetto and squeal that part. No one seems to remember the rest of the song. We decided it had to stay."

Hailing from San Luis Obispo, California, PK is made up of Travis Hawley (Vocals), Matt DePauw (Guitar), Mikel Van Kranenburg (Bass), Nick Fotinakes (Guitar) and Rico Rodriguez (Drums). While the members initially met in high school, vocalist Hawley was born in the United Arab Emirates and lived in England for five years before moving to the U.S. His brief stint in the UK deeply affected his vocal style and he has often been compared with emotive British artists such as Robert Smith, Bono, and Danny Elfman.

After releasing their first full length Into the Roaring, PK was immediately hand selected and published by Rolling Stone Magazine as 1 of 16 top unsigned artists in the United States. In the past year, the band has opened for such acts as Angels and Airwaves, Twin Atlantic, Aerosmith, Shiny Toy Guns and Youngblood Hawk and has garnered attention from the likes of Nylon Guys, Alternative Press, Pac Sun Music, RCRDLBL, Filter Magazine and Dianna Agron of GLEE's blog, "You Me & Charlie." PK recorded their new EP The Lost Boys Sessions at the famed Red Bull Studio in Los Angeles.

PK released The Lost Boy Sessionson May 29th (see our review here). For more information, go here.

Review: The Slingsby Hornets “Borrowed And Blue”

Power pop

The Slingsby Hornets injected us with a healthy dose of vintage-styled power pop with their last release, “Something Old Something New” (reviewed here). The new release – the fourth – is a 35 minute romp through pop history, Slingsby style. The record is aptly named “Borrowed And Blue” as it features a number of cover tunes spanning several decades of pop music.

The first thing that is evident with “Borrowed And Blue” is that Jon Paul Allen (a.k.a. Frank E. Slingsby) has wonderful taste in music. His choice of tunes to rework is impeccable and includes a nearly unrecognizably peppy version of the Carpenters hit “Yesterday Once More”. Even better is his rendition of Bobby Goldsboro’s AM radio smash “Little Things”. However, I don’t think the world needed another cover of David Essex’s “Rock On”, but it’s here if you want it. My pick of the litter has to be the energetic version of “The Lady In Red”, a staple of the 80s high school dance originally performed by Chris De Bergh.

Among the original tunes, definitely check out the upbeat “Love, Love” and the downbeat “Growin' Old Disgracefully”. And I have to mention the CD itself was a hoot – packaged as a Japanese import with OBI strip and all – way cool! “Borrowed And Blue” is another winner from The Slingby Hornets that will keep power pop aficionados happy all summer long.

Slingsby Hornets – Official site.

Check out the video for “Fireball XL5”, a cover of a 60s TV show theme:

Review: Europe “Bag of Bones”

Rock
Don’t ask me why, but I’ve been buying every new Europe album even though the last great one was way back in the early 90s with “Prisoners In Paradise”. Each time Europe releases a new album they say it is the greatest since “Final Countdown”, but each has been deeply disappointing as the band seemed to be stumbling around in the dark searching for a new undated sound. The band is back with “Bag of Bones”, a new record that once again claims to be their best since “Final Countdown”. And this time there isn’t a bone in this body that regrets getting it.

Europe has finally found the sound I believe they were looking for – of perhaps they just finally perfected it. “Bag of Bones” is a heavy, guitar driven record that blasts off with four hugely engaging songs right at the top of the batting order. But this isn’t your father’s Europe. This Europe sounds like it belongs among any modern rock band, with the exception that they boast much better guitar solos.

I must admit I miss the keyboard-guitar synergy that made their late 80s records so memorable. But if they had stayed on this path, they would definitely sound dated. If you are a big fan of this era of Europe, you may want to sample “Bag of Bones” before purchasing. In addition to the smoldering title track, just check out the crushing sound of tracks like “Firebox”, “Riches To Rags”, or first single, “Not Supposed To Sing The Blues”. The middle of the record sags a bit, but the band closes strong with killer cuts like “Doghouse” and “Mercy You Mercy Me”. The record closes with an exceptional and soulful ballad, “Bring It All Home”.

“Bag of Bones” is not a melodic masterpiece, but it reaches much greater heights than their other recent work. It continues to be dark and moody, but it’s got something about it that makes it more energetic and memorable.

Europe – Official site.

Check out the video for “Not Supposed To Sing The Blues”:

Melodic rock CD of the week: Poison

By Stephen Kasenda

POISON “Open Up And Say…Ahh” (1988)

Poison did well with their debut, "Look What The Cat Dragged In" in 1986, and they successfully spread the venom with their follow-up, "Open Up and Say.. Ahh". The sophomore record spawned four hit singles, including the well-known acoustical piece "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". They stripped the heavy metal element from the debut and put a more stadium-oriented hard rock and commercial touch to the songs. The result is beyond any devil's expectation, racking up 10 million sales worldwide and boosting their name to become a big contender alongside Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses.

While many claims that this is their best album, I hardly agree as I think Poison reached their peak later with "Flesh & Blood". Sure this has a lot of strong and classic tracks, but with some decent songs such as "Love On The Rocks", the Def Leppard-rip off "Tearin' Down The Walls", and the worst filler, "Bad To Be Good", this album suffered from songwriting inconsistency. My fave picks of the album are "Nothin' But A Good Time", a fiery party starter, the stripper's anthem "Look But You Can't Touch", the body-shaking Loggins and Messina cover of "Your Mama Don't Dance", and the painful ballad of "Every Rose". But the top of the mountain is undoubtedly the fame-and-fortune journey of "Fallen Angel".

The production is raw and thin. The volume level is very low. I haven't got the re-mastered version yet but I hope they've resolved this issue. "Open Up And Say.. Ahh" is still a very good release with lots of fun and excitement. With this album, Poison taught you how to live life and party hard. As long as you don't drive drunk, kill somebody, and blow up your liver, that's quite a harmless lesson to learn.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Under Cover: AC-DC

I'm betting very few of you woke up with an urge to hear classic AC/DC hits played on ukulele. Nevertheless, here is a batch of AC/DC covers played on the uke.

A taste of what you're in for:

Review: PK “The Lost Boys Sessions” [EP]

Rock

If you took Robert Smith of The Cure and injected his right arm with testosterone and his left arm with caffeine, you’d get a pretty good approximation of what the indie rock outfit PK sounds like. The urgency of early U2 resonates in their songwriting and new wave 80s sound effects abound, yet they sound like a comfortable companion to modern rock pioneers The Killers.

“The Lost Boy Sessions” marks the band’s second release, bursting with 6 songs to add some sizzle into your summer. Hailing from San Luis Obispo, California, PK is made up of Travis Hawley (Vocals), Matt DePauw (Guitar), Mikel Van Kranenburg (Bass), Nick Fotinakes (Guitar) and Rico Rodriguez (Drums). Hawley lived in England for five years before moving to the U.S., which deeply affected his vocal style – you’ll hear influences from Robert Smith to Bono to Danny Elfman. PK’s first record, “Into the Roaring”, got the band selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as 1 of 16 top unsigned artists. In the past year, the band has opened for such acts as Angels and Airwaves, Twin Atlantic, Aerosmith, Shiny Toy Guns and Youngblood Hawk.

Things start off on the right foot with “Berelain” (video below), a hugely energetic anthem that sounds like it could have been on the “Better Off Dead” soundtrack – easily my favorite on the EP. “London” is a tribute to Hawley’s stomping grounds, appropriately performed in Brit-pop style. If “Some Nights” doesn’t take you back to the 80s, I’m not sure what will – this tune is a blast, reminding me of Rock Kills Kid. The EP ends on strong notes as well, with the ambitious “Chase The Sky” and jubilantly catchy “I Know”.

PK released “The Lost Boy Sessions” on May 29th and you can buy it on iTunes here. The band is also giving away their full-length debut “Into The Roaring” here.

PK – Official site.

Check out the video for “Berelain” here:

You Were Robbed – The Pursuit of Happiness

"You Were Robbed" features artists and bands that should have gotten much more recognition and fame than they did. Check them out now...better late than never!

Well known in their native Canada, The Pursuit of Happiness (TPOH) never made it as big in the States. Led by the hilarious and talented songwriter Moe Berg, TPOH did achieve a modest level of success with the amusing rock track “I’m An Adult Now” in 1989.




Maybe the song pigeonholed them into a novelty act, so the other spectacular cuts on their “Love Junk” debut went largely unnoticed by the mainstream. Take a listen to the melodic charm of “She’s So Young” and try to figure out why it wasn’t a crossover smash. The powerpop legend Todd Rundgren produced this record, and his influence comes through the best on this track.



Yes, those beautiful female harmonies supplied by Lelie Stanwyck and Kris Abbott! Those backing vocals became a signature sound for TPOH and they are omnipresent on all of their records. Although, Stanwyck and bassist Johnny Sinclair left the band after the solid sophomore record, “One Sided Story”, to form Universal Honey.

The third single from “Love Junk” was a gritty pop rocker about cheating, the only one I know to rhyme the word “beguiling”. Again, catchy melodies and wry lyrics make it a mystery why this song didn’t give the charts a beating.



Virtually every track is wonderful and sticks in the head easy. I’ll leave you with one final example that should convince you that TPOH was robbed: the acoustic-based pop rocker “When The Sky Comes Falling Down”.

Review: Bonaventure “Come Hell or High Water” [EP]

Pop rock

Formed in 2010, Bonaventure is a Nashville-based pop rock duo that recently released their debut EP, “Come Hell or High Water” on May 15th. Following the success of their previous bands, vocalist Andrew Albert (previously of Holiday Parade) and guitarist Dan Smyers (previously of Transition) have teamed up to create an explosive act in Bonaventure. The band has a diverse sound reminiscent of influences such as Kings of Leon, The Fray, and Carolina Liar.

Bonaventure's debut EP is a perfect soundtrack to kick off the summer. Lead off track “Gaining Speed” feels like a #1 radio hit with an uncanny resemblance to Train. “I Dare You” is another slick piece of commercial pop rock with a sweet hook and sound that pays homage to their love of The Fray. The title track breaks things down with some refreshing acoustic guitars before the power chords chime in to accentuate the storytelling lyrics. “These Shoes” is included as a bonus track - a beautifully sparse but radiating song with a Wildflowers-era Tom Petty vibe (see video below).

Bonaventure brings soulful vocals, melodic hooks, and outstanding modern production to your ears. There’s not much more required to satisfy pop rock fans. You can purchase the EP on iTunes.

Bonaventure – Official site.

Watch the official music video for "These Shoes" on AltPress.com here.

Melodic rock CD of the week: Alfonzetti

By Stephen Kasenda

ALFONZETTI “Here Comes The Night” (2011)

ALFONZETTI's 'Here Comes The Night' is his third solo offering, which came out pretty late in 2011. It steals the attention and I've seen some friends rate this pretty high, even up to their top 10 of that year. I do think this is a great album, but I'm not sure that it's really worth that extremely high rating because despite some killer tracks here such as 'Set Me Free', 'Heartbreaker', 'Don't Listen To Your Heart', and 'Lay Your Love On Me', there are few weaker moments such as 'Why Can't You Love Me', 'Losing You', or 'Rock N Roll Heart'.

This album was handled by only two guys. Matti himself played bass and guitar while singing the whole song and his other friend, Daniel Flores, plays drums and also keys. But to me, it doesn't sound like a one-time project and it still feels like a whole band playing a complete album. Alfonzetti still has that great vocal and I need to underline that the gems of this album are the ballads, so probably not really for those who prefer heavier music, even though you can still find some good uptempo tracks here as well. 'I Will Never Let You Fall' is also a great track.

My biggest complaint is that this album is just way too short. Clocking below 40 minutes, it reminds me of old SLAYER or TESTAMENT album, and I think providing a couple more songs would have been better. I give this a solid 80%, depends on the mood, probably swing as high as 85%. If you love melodic rock and AOR, I think Alfonzetti has done a pretty good job here.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Under Cover: Hit Me Baby One More Time

Travis "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears)

Circa 2003, Brit-pop band Travis reworked this massive Britney Spears hit from a slick overproduced affair to a stripped down acoustic version.

Review: Wig Wam “Wall Street”

Melodic rock
Norwegian glam revival band, Wig Wam, is back with their fourth release, “Wall Street”. The boys in this band enjoyed their major breakthrough in 2005 when they presented their single "In My Dreams" to the Eurovision Song contest, beating all rivals and going straight to #1 on the national charts, where it stayed for over 21 weeks and went platinum. In 2006, Wig Wam recorded their follow up, “Wig Wamania”, and further cemented their reputation for big riffs and catchy hooks with the 2009 release of “Non Stop Rock N Roll” (reviewed here).

As you might surmise from the title, all the fun seems to have been sucked out of this party band. This time around, the band made a conscious effort to bring more depth to their lyrical themes. An admirable task, but it isn’t going to be compatible with what many of their fans expect – and might want. There is a greater sense of drama in the musical accompaniment to match the darker, more somber mood. Nothing wrong with a band evolving and experimenting, but I have to say it took me by surprise and I’m not sure it was a pleasant one.

The title track and “OMG! (Wish I Had A Gun)” almost seem too serious for their own good, and these are followed by a painfully boring ballad called “Victory Is Sweet” (but even more sleepy is “Tides Will Turn”). “The Bigger The Better” is more exemplary of what we’d expect from Wig Wam, but it feels strangely small in staying power. “Try My Body On” might have worked better on a previous record, but these lyrics just sound stupid sandwiched between the other songs. The only tracks that have a chance of being played again into my ears are the catchy “Wrong Can Feel So Right”, the funky rock fusion “One Million Enemies”, and the refreshing acoustic-based jam “Natural High”.

I really enjoyed the last Wig Wam record, but “Wall Street” is bankrupt – what a disappointment! A band should grow and explore more serious themes, but they don’t have to compromise memorable melodies to do so.

Wig Wam – Official site.

Review: SIVA Addiction “Bad Decisions”

Modern rock
Led by the powerhouse vocals of Bridgette Oliver, Oklahoma-based SIVA Addition released their sophomore effort, “Bad Decisions”, back in February of this year. Propelled by the head-banging single, “One Night Rodeo”, the band is raising eyebrows as fans raise their fists in the air at their shows. “Bad Decisions” was produced by Hinder's Cody Hanson, so if you’re familiar with Hinder you have a good idea of what SIVA Addiction sounds like. In addition to Bridgette Oliver on lead vocals, SIVA Addiction features Andy Hopkins on lead guitar, Jesse Slone on bass, Vince Lindstrom on rhythm guitar, and Brandon Fields on drums.

The title track serves to introduce us to what SIVA Addiction is all about – thick riffs, anthem choruses, and engaging lyrics and vocals. In addition to the terrific “One Night Rodeo”, other rocking highlights include “Hit Me”, “Night To 5”, and “When It’s Over”. The band can do more than rock out - “Gone Away” is a restrained and pleasant mid-tempo tune and “Take Me Home” is a solid power ballad.

Fans of Halestorm, Paramore, and Shinedown will want to check this one out for sure – lots of good tunes to feast on to satisfy modern hard rock appetites. You can catch the band on tour with Saliva.

SIVA Addiction – Official site.

Melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

GOTTHARD “Human Zoo” (2003)

'Human Zoo' is a turning point for hard rock band GOTTHARD. Entering year 2000, the band seems to have convinced themselves to play a more European melodic rock style rather than the AC/DC driven no-frills hard rock. Both sides of GOTTHARD are interesting, as is trying to see them mix the two styles in the set list during their concerts.

This album is a slightly higher step than 'Homerun', and there are three insanely perfect songs here that give me chills when I hear them. 'Have A Little Faith' is a truly wonderful ballad with a beautiful violin that could make a perfect wedding song. 'Top of The World' is a roaring anthemic song and also an incredible gig opener. 'One In A Million' is a brilliant commercial track that I love a lot.

GOTTHARD also seems to focus more on the mid-tempo songs and ballads, even though some heavy rockin' songs like 'Human Zoo' and 'Where I Belong' add colors to the whole album. The mid-paced tunes such as 'Jamie's Not Alone', the acoustical ballad of 'First Time In A Long Time', and the closing song, 'What Can I Do' are other songs that I recommend. The production is also great and overall this one is a pleasant album and I'll gladly rate it a respectable 85%.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.