GUGUN POWER TRIO - "Far East Blues Experience" (CD)

Indonesia??!!! Holy crap, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of any rockers from Indonesia! Japan, China, North Korea and even Singapore, but never Indonesia. Well, there’s a first for everything. I must say if I didn’t know I’d never have guessed it. The far east musicians often have a special touch, at least to their vocals. Gugun, however, sounds perfectly westernized. Well, sounding westernized is no proof of quality however. I’m therefore happy to say, Gugun passes my quality approval test flying colours! This is no holds barred, guitar driven, balls out blues rock leaning on the heritage of Hendrix, Vaughan, Gallagher and Bolin. Gugun is a outstanding player with a great tone, outstanding feeling and great technique. I really love his style of playing, even though it may not bring anything new and revolutionary. If you’ve got IT, you don’t need to. He’s got a solid, great pair of backing musicians in bass player Jono and drummer Bowie that really bring the goods. “Turn It On” is a prime example of a power trio working in perfect unison, with a guitarist rocking it out and a rhythm unit filling up every crack and crevice. Awesome stuff indeed! Gugun has really succeeded in bringing up a classic genre and giving it a new spin, writing songs that rejuvenates the legacy of the aforementioned kings. I truly LOVE the way he grooves in songs like “Fallin’ Down”. It’s impossible to sit still on your arse. This rocks, big time! Gugun is also a very fitting singer for this genre. Great bluesy vibe and the perfect roughness. I can’t find any bad tracks whatsoever on this album. It’s solid as a rock from start to finish. It also has a nice blend of various styles within the blues rock territory, from the funky vibe of “Spinnin’ Around Me” and “Emptiness”, to the “Little Wing” style softness of “Holding On”, the Stevie Ray:esque “Move On” to the raw heavy jams of “White Dog Jam”. A highly recommended gem!
Janne Stark
Label: Grooveyard Records (http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/)
Country: USA
Year: 2011

VINCE HAWKINS & COMPANY SLAVE - s/t (CD)

Once there was Frank Marino (well, he still IS for that matter), but not that much has come out of Canada since when it comes to retro oriented, rough edged blues players. That is, until now. Vince Hawkins is a new name for me, but man, can this cat jam or what?! Ok, if you’re looking for slick, modern sounding stuff or toothless bar style blues, f’gged it! Vince Hawkins struts his stuff just like classic players like Frank Marino and Hendrix. He’s got that heavy, dirty, rough edge that I just love. Unpolished, raw and it has the perfect nerve to it. Just listen to a track like “Three Kings” and you’ll see exactly what I mean. In some tracks I could have sworn it was recorded live in the studio, but as Vince handles both guitar, bass and vocals it’s physically impossible. So, lots of kudos for making it sound so alive! He uses four drummers on the album, one better than the other and my favourite, a cut above the others, being the loose and lethal Josh Shaw. Not saying the others are nothing short of great, but Josh’s playing, especially in the breaks of opening rocker “The Gods Made Love” is just awesome and really lifts the song. Great song, too, by the way! The material on the album takes a lot of different turns, which is nice and refreshing. One example is the cool and smooth sounding “Peace On Earth”, while “Medusa’s Head” reminds me of a mix between 70s band Rockicks with a touch of Robin Trower. There is some traditional blues stuff in here as well, where “Cathouse” and “Ashes In My Whiskey” are traditional slow blues with a heavier chorus and “My Ship” also treads quite common blues steps. Good enough stuff, and Vince’s guitars shines brightly through it all. I must however admit, I do prefer songs like killer up-tempo back beat rocker “Big City Blues”. That’s the stuff that really gets my mojo going! And, there’s much more of that on this album! Great stuff!
Janne Stark
Label: Grooveyard Records (http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/)
Country: USA
Year: 2011

JOHNNY HUNKINS - "Talladega Pile-Up" (CD)

Man, this new bunch of Grooveyard releases must be one of the best collection of discs in years! Besides Vince Hawkins, Gugun Power Trio, the Stranger compilation and the never failing Blind Side Blues Band, here’s Jonny Hunkins! Just like Hawkins, Hunkins is a multi instrumentalist, handling bass, guitars, keyboard, harmonica and vocals himself with the additional aid of drummer Ryan Hoyle (Paul Rodgers/Collective Soul). It actually quite hard to believe it is the debut of this American blues rock cat. He sounds like he’s been doing this all his life. Besides being a damn fine guitarist and singer, Johnny is the editor of a hot rod magazine. I swear at times I can hear his guitar being routed through a rumbling V8! Hunkins ain’t your average straight ahead blues rocker, I’d say his style has picked up influences from all over the place. There’s stuff that reminds me a bit of Molly Hatchet, at times I hear some ZZ Top, while some songs draw near the territory of Michael Katon. Take a song like “Floyd County Bootleg” with its detuned heavy riffing, followed by yet another shit-kickin’ down and dirty tractor pulling blues rock crusher in “Over The Edge”. Where he even adds some banjo and harmonica for good measures. Let’s however go back to the beginning with the title track, a fast pace boogie rocker where the verse riff actually reminds me of my own song “Howl For Me”, recorded by BALLS (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ballsrock), not that Johnny has probably ever heard it, but I guess great minds think alike (*wink* *wink*). The album features guest spots from people like Wes Jeans, Chris Duarte and Ryan McGarvey. Well, truth be told, Johnny needs no help whatsoever! Just check out to his phenomenal soloing in “Rock ‘N Roll Party”. The song may be a heads down, no nonsense rocker, but listen to that guitar wail! Holy crap! These cool licks just keep flying out! As I said earlier this is no musically streamlined production, which is proved already in third track “Catch Me”, which is more of a classic hard rocker with a southern touch to it. “Henry Jackson” has some ZZ Top:ish Billy Gibbons flavour to the rhythm guitar work. The production of the album, by Johnny himself, is also worth mentioning. Sounds great! Well, I won’t go into every song, I will just state the fact that there’s not a weak song on this album and I hope this album will also break Hunkins in the world outside of cars. He sure as hell deserves it!
Janne Stark
Label: Grooveyard Records (http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/)
Country: USA
Year: 2011

NYMF - "Nymf" (CD)

Karlshamn based band Nymf, featuring members from label mates Graviators, make their debut in the true old Black Sabbath manner. Opener “The Grave” feeds you riffs that may as well have been signed Tony Iommi. The biggest difference however is lead singer Niklas Sjöberg’s vocal approach. He often reminds me of Mustasch’s Ralf Gyllenhammar and at times of Christian lindersson (Count Raven/St Vitus), except when he, like in “Dark Autumn’s Fire” decides to go into growling mode. Growl is something I’ve learned to accept and in some cases, even like. I shall however admit that, in this case, I could do without it. However as it’s a very limited effort, I can overlook it this time. In some songs, like “Regardless”, I get pretty strong vibes of Pentagram (the Liebling unit), especially when from a guitar perspective. It’s all about simple but highly effective riffs. The mix, made by Olle Blomström, brother of Johan (Blinded Colony, Overdrive, Kaptain Sun etc), is really fat and rich. The guitars build a massive wall of sound, but without diminishing the drums and bass efforts. One track that kinda deviated from the general theme is “Step Aside”, with its cool intro, but also a slightly different type of riffing and a nice arrangement. A killer track indeed. Also “Forsaken” has a softer atmosphere which gives the album some well needed breathing space. I’m happy Nymf tries not to get stuck in the traditional stoner rut. Even though it’s about heavy and doomy riffs that do rock out, like in “Evil Itself”. The album closer initially features with the most doomy riffs of them all, with a slight touch of Black Sabbath’s eponymous epos, and then picks up speed and provides some classic disharmonic Sabbathian chord changes. A nice mix of Blacks Sabbath overtones and Mustasch undertones.
Janne Stark

Country: Sweden

Year: 2010

Label: Transubstans

www.myspace.com/nymfband

GOLDEN RESURRECTION - Glory To My King (CD)

And I thought neoclassical metal was something Yngwie was the only one to still hold on to. Maybe there’s a new wave coming? As Golden Resurrection features former Narnia singer Christian Liljegren and ReinXeed guitarist Tommy Johansson, the choice of style may not be that surprising. Both have been strong keepers and followers of the aforementioned genre for quite some years. Fans of early Narnia will definitely love this album. The style is double bass drum based up-tempo neoclassical melodic heavy metal, in the same style as Narnia once were, actually with a strong touch of Johansson’s more power metal oriented band ReinXeed. Great melodies, well arranged songs and a strong melodic feel that carries the songs in a highly favourable way. I also have to say Christian probably does one of his best vocal works to date. If Calle Grimmark was the six string torch bearer or Narnia, young prodigy Johansson keeps on carrying that torch with pride and great technical skills. He does some really impressive solo work and his technique is flawless. Of course drummer Rickard Gustavsson, bass player Stefan Käck and keyboard player Olov Andersson (Grand Stand) give a strong and highly important foundation that the songs rest upon. I shall also add that this is by no means any streamlined shredder-plodding album. The variation is definitely there, and one of my favourite moments is the heavy, riff oriented and melodic “Never Look Back”, with a chorus that is closer to AOR than metal. On the other hand “Golden Flames” or the intro of “The Final Day” could have been penned by Mr Malmsteen himself. A highly enjoyable album that is a must for fans of melodic power metal and neo classical metal.
Janne Stark

Year: 2010

Label: Liljegren Records

Country: Sweden

www.myspace.com/goldenresurrection

John Waite - Rough & Tumble (CD)

Holy crap!! I’ve been a fan of John Waite ever since I heard The Babys and “Looking For Love” on Swedish radio back in the seventies! I’ve enjoyed most of his solo stuff, too, especially the rockier stuff like “Ignition” and “Rovers Return”. I also had the great pleasure of seeing Mr Waite live in Augsburg, Germany not that long ago and man, he still rocked! Great backing band, too! So, how’s he doing on record? Well, his new album starts off with one nice firecracker of a song, the title track. My first impression is I love the naked, rough, rocking sound. A guitar, a bass, a set of drums, some occasional keyboards and the great voice of Mr W. No unnecessary overdubs, no annoying over-Americanized reverb. This sounds like a pure melodic rock album made with love and honesty. “Shadows Of Love” is another melodic rocker that takes us back to Waite in his best form.

Don’t be fooled by the title of the next track - “Evil”. It’s not the old seventies song and it’s no detuned heavy rocker. Here’s a cool melodic rocker, maybe not as hard hitting as the openers, but still very enjoyable indeed. What really makes it work is that John Waite still possesses THE voice! Next up is a classic Waite-sounding ballad, ornamented with some acoustic guitar and piano. It’s of course hard to exceed tracks like “Missing You” or “In Dreams”, but he does try and this one goes a long way. This time John is using the guitar talents of Luis Maldonado and Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty). The latter also co-wrote a bunch of the tracks. “Skyward” is another semi-ballad following in the same vein as the stuff Waite produced on albums like “Temple Bar”.

The cover of Tina Turner’s “Sweet Rhode Island Red” opens up sounding like mid 90s ZZ Top with dirty finger-picking phat guitars and some shuffle-style snare drumming making this an outstanding full throttle bluesy shuffle rocker. Waite sings his heart out, as usual, no holds barred! “Love’s Going Out Of Style” is a mid-pace semi-soft track with almost reggaeish guitars and a cool Nashville sounding chorus. Great bluesy solo from Kyle. There’s even some saxophones in the chorus, but very much in the background. I hate sax, but for some reason they do work well here. “Better Off Gone” kicks off with a nice guitar riff and continues in a melodic upper mid-tempo mode with the classic Waite tone all over it. It has a cool car driving mode to it, made for a top down ride, full on sunshine and sunglasses on! Next up is “Further The Sky” which is a really cool bluesy ballad with some great guitar playing from Shayne Fontayne. Again I have to praise the earthy, unpolished production giving you the feeling of the band being in the same room as yourself. I truly love that!

“Peace Of Mind “ is a track that sticks out a bit with its spoken verse. Not bad, but not really at par with the other tracks. On the other hand I truly LOVE John’s new version of one of my old favourites “Mr. Wonderful” from the “Ignition” album. Luis Maldonado does a great work on guitar giving it a dirty, bluesy live-feel. This version really rocks! Sometimes you shouldn’t mess with old classics, but this time I won’t complain, at all! Love this version! The second bonus track, “Hanging Tree”, is a previously unreleased track recorded for the sound track of the movie “Me And Will”. A great soft acoustic ballad with John singing as soulful as only he can do. There is no doubt, John Waite has again exceeded himself! I’m prepared to rate this album as one of his best releases ever, and for me “Ignition” is way up there!

9/10

Janne Stark

Year: 2010

Country: UK/USA

Label: Frontiers

www.johnwaite.com

MANGROVE - A Distant Dream Of Tomorrow (CD)

Transubstans Records have a nice tendency of picking up all the great retro bands of our small but fruitful country. Mangrove made their debut in 2009 with “Endless Skies”, a great debut indeed. The follow-up does not disappoint, on the contrary. “A Distant Dream If Tomorrow” continues where the debut left off. Heavy riffs, great melodic vocals, great musicians and a more classic seventies hard rock sound than stoner. The dead heavy riff in “Never Again” reminds me a bit of bands like vintage Sabbath with a touch of Sir Lord Baltimore. They even have the Black Sabbathian simultaneous dual guitar solo, one in each channel. You don’t hear that too much these days. In the true Sabbath/Zeppelin manner they also mix it up with some nice mid tempo balladry in tracks like “I’ve Been Seen Upon The Sun”. I think I said this in my review of the debut, but I’ll say it again, singer Kataja reminds me quite a lot of Magnus Ekwall of The Quill, which is top notch in my book. They do turn a bit more stoner in some tracks, such as “Mean Woman Blues”, but they still keep their high standard. I also really like the earthy, analogue sounding mix of the album. It’s an album where it actually does happen something when you turn it up! It hasn’t been deviously destroyed in some malicious mastering process where compressors and limiters make everything sound louder than everything else. I hear dynamics, something that unfortunately a lot of albums of today lack. This is a great sounding power trio with all individuals making a serious musical imprint in each and every song. Great stuff indeed!

Janne Stark

Label: Transubstans

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

www.myspace.com/mangrovesweden

Hasse Fröberg & Music Companion - Future Past (CD)

Former Spellbound, current Flower Kings singer Hasse Fröberg has now compiled all his musical ideas into a masterful musical melting pot. He actually has invited some former Spellbound colleagues to accompany him, such as bass player Thomsson and drummer Ola Strandberg. Besides these fellas there are ace guitarist Anton Lindsjö and keyboard player Kjell Haraldsson. If you’re expecting the good old melodic 80s metal of Spellbound, forget it. If you’re however a latter day fan of Hasse’s where his vocal performance in The Flower Kings is of your liking, you should definitely check this out. HFMC is a highly progressive/symphonic band in the vein of The Flower Kings, but actually with a more melodic edge, still very heavy at times though. There are actually even hints of Saga in places. In the later part of “Fallen Empire” for example, where the chorus has more of an AOR/pomp-touch. I also hear influences of Yes and Genesis in the subsequent “Song For July”. Hasse feels a bit more relaxed and free vocally compared to The Flower Kings, more akin to what he did in Spellbound, but with a more mature touch. The songs are very well constructed and the arrangements are killer. A song like 14 minute “Piece Of The Sky” NEVER gets boring, on the contrary, it keeps surprising you all the time. With Queen-like precision the song slithers seamlessly from poppy sing-along parts, though heavy guitar riffs to proggy parts. These are some great musicians, too, I must say! Lindsjö is one hell of a guitar player that at times shows quite a jazzy side to his playing, which gives the songs yet another dimension. “Above” is yet another killer track which also moves through several musical dimensions, starting out with a dead heavy riff that changes into a subtle Pink Floydish landscape with Lindsjö sounding like he was breast fed with Gilmour’s smooth guitar melodies. This is nothing short of awesome! No offence to The Flower Kings, but I personally like this way more! For some reason I kept thinking about the golden oldie “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” when I listen to “Everyday”. Never mind, it’s probably just my ears. “The Ultimate Thrill” has to be my absolute favourite track, though. This is HEAVY rock!! Old school classic heavy rock with concrete heavy guitars á la carte! Awesome, indeed!

Janne Stark
Year: 2010
Label: Reingold Music
Country: Sweden
http://www.hassefroberg.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hassefrobergandthemusicalcompanion

Thalamus - Sign Here For Nothing (MCD)

Thalamus is a band that caught my attention already at their demo stage. I’m also proud to say I had the pleasure of adding a guest solo on a track on the band’s debut album, which is one hell of a debut! I shall also say I have no involvement in this release, meaning I’m not biased, sorta... Anyway, biased or not, this band is the wet dream of any fan of heavy riff oriented 70s hard rock! They remind me a bit of Spiritual Beggard, with the same heaviness, but less stonery. The songs are solid as a rock, and the mix moves mountains. Kjell is also not your average stoner shouter, but has a voice more similar to Beggars first singer, Spice/Kryddan, with a higher pitch than most stonerbands, and of course more melodic. Still, the boy rocks! What I also love about Thalamus is that they don’t take the straight and easy road. Just listen to a song like “Black Day Sunday” with its cool backbeat rhythm and slightly quirky touch. The same goes for the cool but, also rhythmically quirky, “New Age Blues”. Don’t be fooled by the title, it’s no twelve bar standard plodder. This is riff magic of the first degree! Most of the songs are penned by tall boy bass-player Peter Johansson, who has an unerring precision for constructing great and interesting riffs and structures. Besides being a great singer Kjell is also a string-bender of the first order with a Leslie West-infused seventies vibe running down his spine. This platter was mastered by King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor, who did a great job enhancing instead of destroying a great recording. The band is currently in the studio recording a new album, which I’m sure will bring even more walls down! HIGHLY recommended!
Janne Stark
Year: 2010
Label: Scoj Music
Country: Sweden
http://www.myspace.com/thalamusband

NOCTURNAL ALLIANCE - The 3rd Phase Of Destruction (CD)

Nocturnal Alliance was formed in 2004 by former Twilight/Beyond Twilight members Micke Därth and Henrik Johansson. Before this Därth also recorded with the band Detest. Prior to this release Nocturnal Alliance has released a couple of demos, which I haven’t heard (unfortunately). This was however a nice surprise. The band has borrowed former Axia/Leviticus singer Peo Pettersson, a singer/guitarist who has released some solo stuff in a far more poppy AOR vein. Here he gets a chance to show his metal edge, which he should do more often. There are also guest appearances from Janne Ström (Slug) and Linus Abrahamsson (Mister Kite/The Codex).
“The 3rd Phase Of Destruction” is a nice power pack of progressive metal in the vein of bands like Shadow Gallery or a more light weight (technically, that is) Symphony X. It may not be filled with shredding guitar solos, but the ones that are there, they rock! The songs are very well-arrangements and keeps the listener interested all the way through. Nice changes of pace and rhythms, without being over-proggy. It’s on the other hand quite dramatic and almost Wagnerian in the approach at times, which makes me think a bit about the long lost Psychotic Waltz at times. The second last track is the wonderful prog-ballad “With” with female guest vocals by Michelle (no last name, I’m afraid), only overshadowed by the even better final track “How I’m Dead”, another very dramatic ballad that builds up to a crescendo. My only complaint would be the production which lacks a bit of ambience and power. It’s not bad, by any means, but I can only imagine what this would sound like in the hands of someone like Neil Kernon. Anyway, a great CD well worth investing in for fans of melodic and progressive high class metal.
Janne Stark
Year: 2009
Label: Private
Country: Sweden
Link: www.myspace.com/nocturnalalliancesweden

SIDEBURN - The Demon Dance (CD)

Sideburn are no nubes, but even if they were formed already 13 years ago, this is only their third album. They even put Def Leppard to shame. Well, there ends that comparison however. This Stockholm based trio picks their influences from the classic hard rock and bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. I did like Sideburn’s earlier albums, but I felt they sounded more like the average Swedish stoner band. Now I feel something has happened. Sure, there are strong vibes of colleagues like Spiritual Beggars and The Quill, but if you listen to the album’s third track “Song For Hope” influences from the more varied and solemn seventies shine through. This track feels more akin to Bigelf, but with a touch of the old symphonic bands. Here are soft, lengthy melodic parts that float like on clouds, to suddenly be interrupted by lead-coated riffs and Morgan Zoceks killer guitar solos. He balances his style between technique and blues, with a pretty big vibrato that owes a lot to Yngwie Malmsteen. The subsequent track “Fallen Sun” opens with nice guitar picking and a bass solo by Martin Karlsson, this one also with a nice symphonic touch mixed with heavy riffing. Martin also plays keyboards, which gives the album a new and well needed dimension. The band should however attract classic stoner fans, particularly in the crusher “Dyin’ Day”, where Jani Kataja sounds like a long lost cousin of The Quill’s singer Magnus Ekwall. This also sets him apart from most of the, sometimes a bit boring, traditional stoner howlers. Jani has a clear and pure voice, with a nice dose of white blues. I really like the fact that Sideburn resist the temptation to just grind, but instead take their time to soften the distortion a bit and use dynamics, like in heavy bluesy “Shining”. It has a nice semi-fat neck pick-up Les Paul on the rhythm chart. Once he lets it rip he just ups the volume and lets the natural power speak, instead of adding a lot of fuzz. This gives it a lot of dynamics, which is something I often lack today. Dynamics is also the word of honour in “Rainy Day” with its acoustic guitar and dry up-front vocals. When a cool electric guitar is added in the background and the drummer just adds some cool tom-tom playing, these guys prove they know what it’s all about. Furthermore the song keeps on building up to transform into a, slightly surprising, flamenco:ish theme which takes the song into a new direction. The relaxed “Shapes” with its almost eight minutes should give fans of Led Zeppelin value for money. I won’t say more, just – I recommend this one strongly!
Janne Stark

Year: 2010

Label: Transubstans

Country: Sweden

Link: www.myspace.com/sideburnsweden

MOJOBONE - "Cowboy Mode" (CD)

Holy-one-hell-of-a-fucking-shit! After too long silence Mojobone is back with a vengeance! This brainchild of Opeth/Spiritual Beggars man Per Wiberg has given the world two previous releases, who were killer, but they’ve actually managed to blow these away! This is down and dirty, groovy, riff-heavy seventies influenced hard rock at its best! The title has to be one of the most misleading I’ve heard, though. It would be better off named after the track “Celebrate Armageddon”! I won’t go through every track, but opener “Over The Hills” (not the Gary Moore cover) sets the style and pace right away. Heavy, groovy and with ultra-phat riffing. Besides handling the keyboards, guitars and bass, the multitalented Wiberg also handles the vocals. And, he does it great! “Damaged Gods” continues with some gritty drums, courtesy of Marcus Källström (Stonecake, Sky High) and some wah-wah guitars by Spiritual Beggars colleague Mike Amott. “The Peacemakers” takes off in a cool mid-pace with some clean guitars and an almost poppy verse, with the chorus proving to be one of the coolest, grooviest and most hook-laden grooves in a long time, accompanied by some hand clapping. When was the last time you heard hand clapping on a modern hard rock album? It’s followed by one of the heaviest and doomiest riffs I’ve heard in a long time, “Cowboy Mode”. Simple, but oh so effective! Really cool stripped down verse with a brutally fat and distorted bass supporting the vocals. “The Ones That Got Away” starts with some acoustic guitar, but soon kicks off in a cool up-tempo backbeat tempo. This one has some cool Zeppelin overtones and shows the talent of young blues guitarist Christopher Shoori. “Shadow King” also shows the diversity of Mojobone with its soft, almost proggy, touch. “25 Years” also shows a new side of the band, starting off in an vein close to Black Crowes meets The Soundtrack Of Our Lives (but good…). My preference for album title, “Celebrate Armageddon” is an awesome, heavy and funky track, that builds up in a really cool way. It reminds me a bit of Danish rockers Blindstone, which is a great thing in my book. “End Of Music, End Of Story” starts off with a slow, heavy lonesome, fuzzy guitar riff that sets the pace for this slow, almost doomy rocker. The verse is cool and based on drums, vocals and piano, while the chorus brings in the heavy artillery. The album ends with a cool porch blues version of “Over The Hills” which ends the album in a cool way… and now I did go through all the tracks anyway… Well, go out and get it!
Year: 2010
Labe: Hippodome
Country: Sweden
Link: www.myspace.com/mojobone

JACK IN THE BOX - "Stigma MMX" (2CD)

Before I start this review I must point out that this album, in its original version, is in the top section of my favourite albums, EVER! Now, first off I will tell you that my top section does not consist of the usual suspects like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath or Deep Purple. I’m a bit quirkier than that (well, at least not your run of the mill standard hard rock/metal fan). It’s up there with the likes of King’s X’s “Gretchen Goes To Nebraska”, Diamond REO’s “Dirty Diamonds”, Sir Lord Baltimore’s “Kingdom Come” and Captain Beyond’s self-titled debut. If we start with the phenomenal mix by Ken Ingwersen, it’s nothing short of pure magic. Heavy, yet with a lot of air. Outstanding bass sound, combined with killer drums and a guitar sound that breaks down walls. Just take a song like the outstandingly heavy “Butterfly”. That riff surpasses anything Black Sabbath has ever written in terms of heavy riffs! (Yes, I know I just committed a blasphemy, but that’s how I feel, can’t help it). Another thing that is so cool and a bit of the band’s trade mark, is the way they build up a killer riff, just to leave off the bass continuing with the riff and the guitars go into totally different places, just to come back and tip another bunch of cows over. On top of all you have the exquisite soulful voice of Eric Si. This is a perfect combination of killer musicians, a perfectly fitting singer, top notch production and of course, last but not least, song material so close to perfection it’s probably the only album I would ever need on a desert island. The album opens up, instantly proving this is a band you just don’t put in a box (despite the name). “In2 Thousand Pieces” opens with atonal guitar, like a “Purple Haze” of the 90’s, but evolves into a groovy, driving track with a heavy and chunky riff that takes the songs placed you wouldn’t expect. The bass going its own way, leaving the guitars to riff on their own. Little things here and they, like a slightly delayed beat, a sudden break, things that makes the song, and the album for that matter, so much more interesting to listen to. I have a tendency to grow tired of parts of albums, such as the ballads. A lot of bands just can't write interesting ballads. However this band manages to keep my attention. The title track is a very soft flowing track, with a really cool combination of soft plucking guitars, a heavy driving bass and Frode Lamöy’s repetitive but very cool drum pattern. “Lilac Road” is another very different style ballad, more like a melodic poem over a guitar pattern. Also here the production gives the song so many new dimensions. Just listen in your headphones and you’ll hear all the little details such as chanting Indians. The last ballad type song is the album closer “Cycle”, which is also far from your standard ballad, but starts out with acoustic guitar, heavy bass and cool drums, with a heavy, brutal slightly atonal passage which keeps your ears on your toes. Then of course we have the obvious hits, also not hits in the sense of radio friendly, poppy sing-alongs. These are songs that get stuck in your brain without being annoying. They are just so friggin’ great! “French Fries For Breakfast” (you just gotta love that title!), “Yellow” (with it’s …interesting… lyrics), the driving, quirky and outstanding “In Tune” and of course the groovy “Challenge Chamber Champagne”. I also have to mention the killer heavy “Not Yet” where Eric goes deep in his vocal register and so do the riffs. I could go on and describe every song on this album, because they all are different with their own flare, but still the album is an ALBUM with a common thread, a start and a goal and everything inbetween is flawless. After listening to this new re-master, I can just conclude this one is like a very fine and very expensive wine that just gets better with age. The advantage compared to the wine is that this one you can enjoy again, and again, and again. It’s also much cheaper and you don’t get a hangover. Fuck the wine, get “Stigma”!

What about the bonus CD, then? Well, now here’s another reason that you MUST have this album! It starts off with a really cool demo version of "Cycle", called “Psychle”, quite different from the album. It’s followed by the unreleased track “Snow White”, a quite suggestive and really cool rocker in the same vein as the album, just a different mix. Should definitely have made it on to the album when it comes to quality! Next up is a really cool quirky rocker called “No Place Like Home”. It’s definitely got the Jack magic, but it’s a bit different in its approach and I can see why it didn’t make it to the album. Not because of less quality, but it’s a bit different. Love it, though! “Blackout Of You”, a totally beautiful ballad with quite familiar lyrics. Awesome! Next up is a demo version of “Sister”, which sounds very different from the album, and here the King’s X influences really shine through. Love the album version, but I would have bought this one, too. Really nice tight guitar sound with Ty Tabor written all over it! The demo version of “French Fries For Breakfast” follows in the same vein, and this one is even further away from the album version. Same here, love the album version, but I would have settled for this one not knowing the other one. Cool clean funky verse guitars on this one. Then we have the five tracks from the rare “Rockjumping” EP. I liked the EP, but LOVE the album (as you may have gathered…). However, these songs really came to live again after seeing the band live. It’s like I saw the big picture. The re-mastering hasn’t hurt it at all. It’s more vibrant (as Gordon Ramsey would’ve put it). Go out and get some Stigma!
Janne Stark

Country: Norway
Label: Boxreborn (private)
Year: 2010
Link: http://www.boxreborn.com/

Some short reviews

Here's some short comments on some new releases. Longer reviews will follow.

THUNDERSTONE - "Dirt Metal" (SPV) - Great new album from this Finnish unit, reinforced with former Sanity/At Vance singer Rick Altzi. In my opinion their best album to date. Heavy and powerful metal!

STORMZONE - "Death Dealer" (SPV) - I've seen this Irish bunch of rockers a couple of times and they always deliver live. The new album has been quite a while in the making, but now it's finally here and it was worth waiting for. Classic melodic metal with great vocals from Harv Harbinson and great guitar work!

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - "Fever" (Sony Music) - It took me a while to actually even check this band out as I wrote them off as "kiss-ass-nu-metal-popsters". Wrong was I. If you're into bands like Avenged Sevenfold, this should not be missed. Their previous album "Shoot Aim Kill" was very good, but this one really kicks ass! A bit heavier. Great guitarwork and SOLOS, yes indeed!

SCORPIONS - "Sting In The Tail" (Sony Music) - I can actually see why they leave off with this album. It's the best they have produced since their haydays. "Unbreakable" was a good step on the way, but here you get the full monty. This is the Scorps back in their best 80s suite. Great stuff!

Y&T - "Facebreaker" (Frontiers) - OK, my hopes may have been set a little bit too high. It's good, it is, but it does leave me a bit empty. There are some killer tracks here, but there are also some songs that I don't remember even after 4-5 listenings. I'll give it another shot, though, as I do love the band.

Magnolia - "Steg för steg" (CD)

Abramis Brama, Svarte Pan, Horisont, Mouchta and Magnolia. Just to name a few. It’s fun to see our country’s hard rock forefathers November have inspired so many new and great bands. Magnolia have now released three albums, the same amount November made during their short time of existence. The development for Magnolia have certainly progressed, even if I really liked the band even from the start. What hit me is that the production feels so much more solid on this album. It has really nice dynamics, free from all destructively over-the-top in-your-face mastering and mix. Despite this the sound is really fat and heavy with a classically seventies inspired broad stereo sound. Furthermore the guitars are heavy and raw but without being over-distorted. I can almost bet it’s pure tube amplification we’re hearing, it does really sound that way. Also, the drums are nicely liberated from any triggs and added sounds, instead they have gone for a Bonhamish room sound which can only be obtained using real drums in a real room. Just listen to the intro of “Nu får det vara nog”. This, in combination with Ronny’s fat distorted bass á la Felix Pappalardi makes this a sound for sore ears. Ronny is also a great singer and he, of course, sings in his mother language (Swedish if anyone wonders). I also feel the songs on the new album are stronger than ever, with a multitude of killer riffs nicely baked into the groovy songs. In the track “Jag vandrar” they have even succeeded making a Fender Rhodes piano sound heavy, which is an achievement well worth noticing! This album is a treat for us fans of seventies classics like Mountain, November, Cream, Blue Cheer etc. I’m actually quite impressed Ronny has succeeded in writing so many great riffs, that despite this well-explored genre, feel fresh and new. I actually didn’t feel any recognition of any other “oldie” in any of the songs. Of course you will hear traces of the influences, but the songs sounds new. Just like “the elder” is by no means a one track album, but spreads out into other musical areas, such as the cool jazz-bluesy, but still quite heavy “Jag vandrar”, with a killer guitar solo by Mark Tholin (who also handles the piano). Another example is the happy instrumental “Arbetar I solsken”, who also walks its own little path. A truly awesome album which is in it absolute top of all the current November worshippers’ works! Check it out!
Janne Stark
Year: 2010
Label: Transubstans
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.myspace.com/magnoliarock

Suicide Nation - "Jesus Crisis" (CD)

Swedish heavy thrashers Suicide Nation made their debut in 2005, entitled “Evilution”, and the follow-up “Vaya Con Chaos” came two years after. Keeping the two-year sequence, they unleashed their third effort late 2009. It’s however definitely not too late to review it! I hadn’t heard their earlier releases when their third effort ended up in my mail box. Now I have to get those, too, because this friggin’ rocks!!! Imagine a mix of Black Label Society, Mustasch, Spiritual Beggars and Soilwork. Heavy, raw, skullcrushing metal with a touch of thrash mixed with a fat stonerish vibe. These guys know how to write earth shattering riffs! It’s however not without dynamics which shows already in the second track “Holy Book, Holy Lies, Holy Water” with its clean guitar parts thrown in. They’ve also got a really cool heavy groove going on, which they prove in stomper “The Load”. The track “Hypocrite” sounds quite a lot like LOK but with more melodic vocals and in English and with a guitar solo. Killer track, indeed! Daniel Löfgren is a rough edged singer with a broad vocal spectrum, from cool soft almost bluesy vocals, like in the melodic “God Is Not The Answer” (hmm… do I sense a lyrical theme here?) to pure brutal gutsy roars like in opener “Remains”. At times he reminds me a bit of Spice (ex-Spiritual Beggars) but with a bit more variation. This is all in all a really evenly strongs album. No classics maybe, but definitely not any fillers. Each track has its own right to be there and fills its purpose, which is to make this one solid rocker of an album. Great production, too! Highly recommended indeed!

Janne Stark

Year: 2009

Label: Godsize

Country: Sweden

Link: http://www.myspace.com/suicidenationswe

John Norum - Play Yard Blues (CD)

Talk about a CD with postponed release date, almost competing with Guns ’N Roses ”Chinese Democracy”! The big difference is however that this one was really worth waiting for! When I did a gear-interview with John, at the time the new Europe album was released, he revealed his new solo album would be of the ”bluesier kind”. His last solo album ”Optimus” was more in the same vein as Europe’s reunion-platter with detuned riffs and a more modern approach, an album that didn’t fully hit home with me.

Ok, John, all is now forgiven; ”Play Yard Blues” is the album we (at least I) have been longing for. Here he shows his love for the seventies, both in his own songs and in his interpretations of Frank Marino’s ”Ditch Queen”, Mountain’s ”Travellin’ In The Dark” and Thin Lizzy’s outstanding ”It’s Only Money”. If we start with the cover songs, he hasn’t strayed away too much from the original versions. For example in ”Ditch Queen” he sounds very much like Frank both in his vocals approach and in his lead guitar playing. The influences really shine through. The opening track of the album, “Let It Shine”, also could have been penned by said Marino with its heavy and slightly funky verse riff. If John had to hold back on his solos on the Europe album, he’s really compensated it here. I’m not saying he’s over-playing, but where there’s place for a nice lick, he sure doesn’t rob us of the moment. In “Red Light Green High” he also shows a slightly cooler side, which made me think of bassist Tomas Torberg’s ordinary band Plankton. Norum also sings really laid back and nice on this one, something he also does in “Over And Done”, which stylewise made me think of some of Glenn Hughe’s better solo albums.

A singer John has used on some of his earlier recordings is Leif Sundin, a sadly rarely heard killer vocalist these days. Here he puts his vocal flair on the classic hard rocker “Got My Eyes On You” and the CD’s heaviest and most modern sounding track “Born Again”, the only track with detuned guitars. It however doesn’t stick out in a negative way, but more completes a great collection of tracks. The album ends with the title track that, as the title may suggest, is a play yard for guitarist, an instrumental improvisation number in the sign of blues with Europe colleague Mic Michaeli adding some nice Hammond organ to the brew. I’d also like to give some praise to John’s tasty rhythm boys, the outstandingly groovy Tomas Broman on drums and the aforementioned Plankton bassist Torberg, not forgetting percussionist Peer Stappe. These guys really put the swagger in On-mode in this killer retro-journey. Hats off to a first-rate craft and an album that has found its way nicely into my car stereo and will surely stay there for a long time ahead.

Janne Stark

Genre: Seventies hard rock

Year: 2010

Label: Mascot Reacords

Jack In The Box - Live at Gamla (Concert)

Reviewed by: Janne Stark
The bill: Jack In The Box
City: Oslo
Venue: Gamla
Date: March 19, 2010

Jack in the Box, a Norwegian band probably quite unknown to the majority of the metal fans. Hopefully not for long. The band released one EP entitled "Rockjumping" in 1993 and one CD, "Stigma", two years after. When I first heard the album I though it was pretty decent, put in the CD shelf and forgot about it for a few weeks. After a while I decided to give it another try. This time it hit me quite hard, and it just kept growing and growing. I was in quite a King's X phase at the time, and Jack in the Box was the perfect complement. They were sort of in the same genre, but at the same time had something completely different. Heavy, quirky hard rock with great and pretty odd harmonies. Being a musician and a guitarist myself, I immediately fell for the way they arranged the songs. It often meant the song was based on a riff, which at times was played in unison, bass and guitar, but in the verse the guitars played something completely different, with the bass keeping the riff going, like in "Butterfly" or "French Fries For Breakfast". I longed for the second album, which unfortunately never came as the band parted ways with singer Erik Si, changed their name to Autopulver and changed their style to an easier accessible, and to me way less interesting shape of rock/hard rock. I however never grew out of "Stigma", on the contrary. It was, and still is, one of my top 10 albums EVER. So, when I read Jack in the Box was re-uniting for a show in Norway I booked the trip, hotel and bought the ticket in a split second. I just HAD to see them.

Gamla is a small, but nice club in the centre of Oslo, only a few blocks from the central station, and only a three minute walk from our hotel. Perfect! Never been there before, but I'd sure like to back. I was a bit worried about what it would sound like when I saw the seemingly under-dimensioned sound system and the, after a while quite annoying intro tape which was more like synth noise increasing in intensity to finally decrease... and then start again. It kept going for over an hour and it didn't sound good over the PA. I was concerned. However, as the band entered the stage and the first tones of the excellent "Challenge Chamber Champagne" entered my ears, all doubts were totally blown away. The sound was surprisingly enough - Outstanding! I had forgotten my earplugs, but there was no need for them. The sound was well balanced, fat and heavy and with every single instrument, AND vocals, coming over crystal clear and at a perfect level. Hell, I can't even remember when I said that the last time! All hails to the soundman!

So, re-unions can go either way, sound really good, or sound dated, lame and like the band is fighting to remember the songs and moves. Forget that, Jack in the Box looked and sounded like this was a couple of gigs into their first tour after the release of "Stigma". Every T was crossed, every i dotted and the band looked as relaxed as ever. These guys were well rehearsed, that’s for sure. They had also made some really cool re-arrangements to some of the songs, which really surprised me in a positive way. The place was packed, these people were fans, and most of them even knew all the lyrics and would follow all the hints of singer Erik, who, besides sounding slightly strained at times, has a killer voice. Like the intro of the outstanding "Butterfly", where he had the audience scream the intro-scream. In my humble opinion the "Rockjumping" EP was really good, but the album way better. However, when the band played the tracks from the EP, like “Incapable”, “Funeral Fake” and "Dancing With Ethel", I realized they now sounded as they had been raised to the level of the album.

Jack in the Box was missing guitarist Espen who had broken his elbow in a snowboard accident, but had instead been reinforced with guitarist Bjørn Rummelhoff-Hansen, who had only been rehearsing with the band for three weeks. Well, I didn't notice and I don't think anybody else did either as he did a killer job. The remaining members were Lars “Eric Si” Eikind on vocals, Victor Borge on bass, Frode Lamøy drums and Rune Lamøy on guitar.

Of course there were encores, two of them. One being the really cool track “Cascades Of Light” from the band's first demo, even before the band was blessed with singer Lars. Well, it was no different in sound and quality from the rest, pure Jack magic! If (when) they come to Sweden, I’ll be there again, banging along and singing along!

Set list:
Challenge Chamber Champagne

Incapable

Sleep

Sister

Funeral Fake

Butterfly

Dancing With Ethel

Stigma

In2 1000 Pieces

Rockjumping

Not Yet

Lilac

RoadYellow

In Tune

---extra---

Cascades Of Light

French Fries For Breakfast

Check out the band at: http://www.boxreborn.com/

Treat - Coup De Grace (CD)

In the eighties Swedish melodic rock scene there was Europe, there was 220 Volt and there was Treat. First one out to re-unite was Europe, soon followed by 220 Volt, both returning with a vengeance and still rocking, even though the latter has been a bit more in the quiet. Well, a few years ago it was time for Treat! Most of the original line-up, reinforced with ace bassist Nalle Påhlsson set out to return, do some shows and release a compilation with a couple of highly promising new tasters. Shows were played and the interest kept growing. Finally, a new, pure and fresh sounding rocker of an album has been released. The return of Treat now has a proper statement. I did like the early works of the band, but I really fell in love with the band on “Organized Crime”, when the guitars were sharpened and the skills were honed. “Coup de Grace” is like the perfect mix of the two styles, still as melodic as the early works, but with the guitars in the forefront. The sound is anything but dated, but they haven’t gone as far as Europe did to update the sound. Treat indeed stays more true to their legacy and I feel that was definitely the right thing to do. However, as I stated, it doesn’t sound dated, and what it does, thankfully, lack, are the 80s sing-along football choirs, which would really have killed the album (“Tangled Up” has some tendencies, but it still passes with flying colours). Instead it sounds like a Treat that has been rolling with the years, accepting that times are actually changing, but still staying true to the legacy. I think this album will definitely attract new and young listeners of melodic rock. Just like with returning bands such as label mates Giant you immediately recognize the band’s sound and style, but at the same time it doesn’t sound like any repetition of lost glory. Fresh and vibrant, as Gordon Ramsey would’ve put it. I was also a bit afraid Anders/Gary Vikström would bring in some of the vibes from his song writing skills unually aimed for some of the international modern pop/rock acts (N'Sync etc). Thankfully he’s recognized the difference and left these tendencies out of the picture. This is a really nice slab of great sounding melodic rock/AOR that I can highly recommend for both old fans and new.
Janne Stark

CRAZY LIXX - New Religion (CD)

Boy, this sure feels like a nice step-up! I’d lie if I said I was a big fan of this Swedish sleaze/glam unit. However, this time they have really got a tight and great sound, songs that work and a singer that don’t promise more than he delivers, and he really does deliver! Crazy Lixx is by no means inventive or unique. Opener “Rock In A Hard Place” reminds me a bit of Bon Jovi’s “Dead Or Alive” here and there, while the subsequent “My Medicine” starts of with a riff that could be a cousin of Poison’s “Unskinny Bop”. “Blame It On Love” may as well have been a lost power ballad by Pretty Maids and the choruses on the album oozes of John “Mutt” Lange’s classic Def Leppard production. Well, it sounds like I’m complaining, but I’m actually not, as this is a really good album! It doesn’t sound like anything Swedish. My guess, without knowing, would have been a lost gem from the mid/late eighties with unusually great production (especially the pleasant lack of the horrible BIG drums). What surprises me is that this album is less glammy than I expected, that there’s more AOR in the choruses and that this is closer to classic melodic hard rock, than glam. It actually wasn’t until the cowbell entered in “Lock Up Your Daughter”, not that the track is any less good because of that. “She’s Mine” is however a bit too poppy for me, almost sounding like something Bryan Adams could have written. The album of course has the classic powerballad in “What Of Our Love”, which could have become a huge hit if the almanac read 1986, instead of 2010. A short, but sweet, slide thingy opens the road for my favourite track on the album, the stomping riffster “Voodoo Woman” which closes the album in the perfect manner. This album was a nice surprise and I suspect this may well be THE party album of 2010.
Janne Stark


Category: Melodic hard rock
Label: Frontiers
Year: 2010
Country: Sweden
Website: http://www.crazylixx.com/

ASTEROID - II (CD)

Fuzzorama Records. The name kinda says it all! They have proved the validity of the name with a range of fuzz-oriented releases by bands like The Durango Riot, Truckfighers and Blowback. Asteroid made their debut album in 2006, following a spilt with Blowback. When listening to the band’s new album much of the fuzz is actually placed in the backseat. I however assure you it’s not less heavy because of this, oh no. Take a listen to the old Black Sabbath and Zeppelin albums and you’ll notice that most of the heaviness doesn’t actually lie in the fuzzy guitars, but in the sound and the way the bass and drums sound and interact. Take a listen to the solo section of second track “Disappear” and you will immediately feel the Ward/Butler vibes hitting you like a ton of bricks, while the guitar is really clean and slightly pushed to the side. That’s ambience people! This is a really cool album where the songs build up to a crushing crescendo, such as the track “Karma” which just keeps building, adding layers, fatness, intensity and pushing up the level until it bursts like a volcano with the lava rolling down the hill eating up everything in its way. In the subsequent “Edge” you also hear most of the heaviness in the riff lies in the crunching distorted bass, while the guitar builds on top adding clarity to the riff. I also really like Robin Hirse’s vocals which remind me quite a lot of a young Bobby Liebling (Pentagram) with an interesting late 60s vibe to it. There’s few tracks in the second half that don’t hit me that hard, such as the up-tempo shuffle “Lady” and the slightly too spaced out “River”. All in all an interesting album well worth checking out!

/Janne

Category: Stones/70s heavy rock

Label: Fuzzorama

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

Website: http://www.asteroid.se/

OBLIVIOUS - Goons And Masters (CD)

Transubstans Records’ modus operandi is too release bands with a strong seventies vibe. They also showcase the great variety that actually existed in this blessed era, from the psychedelica, the acid rock to the heavy riff oriented hard rock. My favourites are of course the latter. The label’s latest combatants go under the collected name of Oblivious and their debut album is entitled “Goons And Masters”. If you played opener “Ego Boy” not telling me the release year and nationality of the band, I don’t think the answer would have been 2010 and Sweden, but more likely late seventies and USA. Ok, they don’t sound too way off from some of the other current stoner bands, but they do have some really nice personal qualities that I dig. Especially the cool harmony vocals and the great variations of “Red Eye Goon”, at times with a touch of Bigelf. This band really stands its ground in comparison with Swedish colleagues like Dozer, Witchcraft, Graveyard etc. Oblivious are a bit heavier and more riff-driven. I also really dig Iska’s vocals, which is not your average stoner singer, even though he has a pretty low down and gritty touch to his voice. One track that sounds a bit more like your run of the mill up-tempo stoner is “Kickin’ And Screamin”, but it fits well into the rest of the material. “Bring It On Me” reminds me a bit of early Grand Magus, which is great in my book. The variety of the album also shows in tracks like the long and at times folk-influenced “Dead End Night” which spans over a wide variety of styles and sounds. A killer track, indeed!! This track also showcases the bands ability to really crush! I really love the mix of this album! There are hints of vintage Sabbath, touches of Bigelf, a bit of Grand Magus, but the mix becomes quite their own. It’s brutal but still ambient and quite analogue. Just take the guitar sound on “Blind Faith” which would scrape the skin off your face if you stood too close to the speaker. One of my favourite Transubstans releases, I must say!

/Janne Stark

Genre: 70s hard rock/Stoner

Label: Transubstans

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

Website: http://www.myspace.com/oblivionlkpg

SUBTOPIA - In What Do We Trust (CD)

In the steps of modern melodic American acts like Hoobastank, Nickleback, Shinedown and Swedish colleagues like Blindside and Takida there has developed a new line of interesting domestic acts. Subtopia is one example of a new Swedish name to check out. Ok, they have a lot of “modern” overtones, but in tracks like “Feed Your Mind” there are traces of Metallica, as well as Avengend Sevenfold, while “Squinch” actually reminds me a bit of Black Sabbath’s “Am I Going Insane” in its half-note elevation. The songs are quite varied without losing the theme. It’s melodic and modern, yet not too slippery or ass-kissing, which should make these guys interesting even for fans of traditional metal. The song material is really good, not earthshaking (which doesn’t happen that often), but it’s really promising! The production by Jonas Ekström and singer Antz is really strong for an indie production. A great band with great promise for the future!
/Janne Stark

Genre: Modern melodic metal
Label: private press
Country: Sweden
Year: 2009
Website: wwwsubtopiamusic.com

MUZL - Unspoken (CD)

Denmark isn’t exactly overexploited when it comes to classy hard rock bands, but once something happens in our sister country, well, then it really happens! Of course bands worth mentioning when it comes to great Danes (excuse the pun) are Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Blindstone, Pretty Maids, Baal and Zoser Mez. I made acquaintance with the Danish trio Muzl when I found them on MySpace (if my memory serves me right) and their debut EP really put a smile on my face. This was in 2005. In 2006 they produced another high quality demo but then it went all quiet. However, lo and behold, without any warning whatsoever – here comes the band’s new album! It does include some of the songs from the previous “releases” and the rest of the material is in the same high quality. I’m not really sure who to compare the band to, but at times they remind me of Norwegian band Jack In The Box (who I’m sure everybody knows…) and at times there’s a touch of Freak Kitchen. Experimental, slightly quirky hard rock with outstanding vocals, great melodies and great songs. The sound is really ambient with a crushingly heavy guitar sound. An original band, something you don’t find every day in this day and age.

/Janne Stark

Genre: Quirky melodic hard rock

Country: Denmark

Year: 2010

Website: http://www.muzl.com/

W.E.T - W.E.T (CD)

Melodic hard rock projects are nice and all, but sometimes the pieces just fall into place. W.E.T is a brilliant example. Jeff Scott Soto on vocals, Robert Säll (Work Of Art) on guitars and Eclipse’s Erik Mårtensson on bass, keyboards and backing vocals. The name comes from the members’ respective bands’ initials Work Of Art – Eclipse – Talisman och musically the band just about sounds like a combination of these (please note that there's also another Swedish band called W.E.T that have made three CDs... erhmmm). Guitar dominated, well-arranged hard rock where the choruses hit you like a ton of bricks. Ok, I shall admit it does almost get a bit too poppy for my delicate hard rock ears in “Brothers In Arms”, but if it’s good, it’s good! What I like about a lot of the tracks is that they can initially seem pretty timid, like “Comes Down Like Rain”, but suddenly there’s this driving heavy section with a flashing guitar solo, here signed Magnus Henriksson (Eclipse). One of my favourite tracks is the rocking “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”, which reminds me a bit about Talisman. Here’s a bunch of really nice rockers where “Just Go” is another prime example. Even if the whole affair smells like a rotten skunk, I’m actually happy Soto didn’t end up in Journey-land. He has a way too personal voice not to use it in a more personal situation, as solo artist, or in a project like this. Here he also has no frames to have to adjust to and no preconceptions to have to live up to. Now that the Talisman saga sadly is at an end station, this band is a nice way to take the melodic rock into new grounds, with Jeff’s voice as the guiding light. Also worth mentioning is the excellent drummer Robert Bäck, whom I’ve had the pleasure of recording in the band BALLS and who is also the drummer of Eclipse. On a further note a DVD is included in the W.E.T package, featuring interiews with the band and probably the last videos with the late Marcel Jacob (R.I.P).

/Janne Stark

Genre: Melodic rock

Label: Frontiers

Year: 2009

Country: USA/Sweden

POINT BLANK - Fight On! (CD)

Anybody remembers vintage southern rockers Point Blank? Yepp, thought so. After way too many years of absence they finally re-united and entered the stage of Sweden Rock Festival last year. When watching the band deliver classic rockers like “Uncle Ned”, “Bad Bees”, “Back In The Alley” and “Nasty Notions” my smile just wouldn’t stop growing. A tour followed and now the band has finally released a new studio album. My favourite period of the band was the first four albums; “Point Blank”, “Second Season”, “Airplay” and “The Hard Way” after which they became a bit too slick and mainstream for my liking. I’m happy to say the return of the southern gentlemen is closer to the early years than the later. Ok, it may not be as dirty and rough as the vintage stuff, but that also has to do with the recording qualities of today etc. The edge is still there in tracks like “Down Not Dead”, “Fight On!”, “Hit The Bottom”, “Deep Ellum Women”, “Out Of Darkness”, “Big White Horse”, “Undercover Lover” and “Short Stack Of Blues” (which makes it most of the tracks, right?), while they show the softer side in tracks like “Made Of Stone”, the sweet instrumental “My Soul Cries Out” with its great guitar harmonies and acoustic soloing and my least favourite on the album, the sugar sweet “Cold Day In Hell”. Even there are no riffs that give classics like “Uncle Ned” or “Nasty Notions” a run for their money, the song material is consistent and it’s really good. It’s an easy listening album, very melodic but still with a nice rough edge to it. It should appeal to both long lost fans and a new crowd of southern rock fans. It’s great to hear O’Daniel still sings southern rock the way it’s supposed to be sung. He still has enough cohones and bluesy feel to pull it off with pride. The same can be said about Rusty Burns guitar playing. He plays with the same conviction, feel and power as ever! Old guitarists don’t fade away they just get longer beards! A nice return from a band I had almost given up on!

/Janne Stark

Genre: Southern rock

Label: Dixie Frog

Country: USA

Year: 2009

Website: http://www.pointblanksouthernrock.com/

BADMOUTH - Badmouth (CD)

Badmouth is a new Swedish band that boasts having been produced by Paul Sabu. To be completely honest I’m not sure people really know what being/having a real producer means. I’m not gonna put any judgement on these guys, but being a producer means you actually get involved in the process already at the song-writing stage, throughout the recording process, and even keeping the eye on the overall financial situation etc. The CD was recorded by Peter Tuthill and HG Hogström in Stockholm and later MIXED by Paul Sabu. There’s a vast difference between mixing and producing, guys. Quite honestly, as much as I like Paul Sabu’s music, he ain’t that hot a sound engineer. The album sounds decent, but much like any standard rate Swedish garage-metal band. I lack the dynamics, real punch in the drums, the fat bass and the rawness of guitars I feel is needed in this type of music. I lack the punch in the face (musically speaking, that is)! Why he had to copy Lars Ulrich’s horrible snare sound from “St. Anguish” in some of the tracks is a mystery though. The song material is decent, lots of clichés both musically and lyrically, but quite standard and lacks real cow-tippers. Mindless, no nonsense hard rock ‘n roll with a touch of punkish attitude, sleaze if you will, sometimes quite close in style to early Shotgun Messiah, Zan Clan or Nasty Idols, but without the perms and lipstick. Tom Pearson is slightly limited vocally, sounding a bit strained at times, but it works ok. I however can’t really say I’m a fan of Randy Joy’s guitar solos, which often sound quite sloppy and untight. Better stick to what works within your limitations, which worked fine for Ace Frehley. There’s actually one song I really like on the album, and it’s another mystery why they decided to let it end the album, “Supersassy Baby”. Great rock ‘n roller, indeed, with a catchy sleaze-chorus. Gimme another round of beer!

/Janne Stark

Genre: Sleaze

Label: Romulus X

Year: 2009

Country: Sweden

Year: 2008

Website: http://www.badmouththeband.com/

Short And Sweet Tips

JOE BONAMASSA - Black Rock (2o10 Provogue)
- If you look up the work "prolific" in a dictionary, you'll find a picture of Joe Bonamassa. What surprises me is that this dude manages to keep such a high standard. Actually, this album contains some of his best and heaviest stuff ever! This is heavy, crunchy blues rock played the right way! www.joebonamassa.com

CRAIG ERICKSON - New Earth Blues (2010 Grooveyard Records)
- Craig is one helluva blues rock guitarist. The band manages to produce record after record with high quality material. If you're into cats like Bonamassa, Philip Sayes, Michael Katon etc. Check this out! www.grooveyardrecords.com

HORISONT - Två sidor av horisonten (2009 Crusher)
- A new Swedish band sounding like they had been shaped in the same mould as seventies rockers November and Cactus. Bluesy, riffy and analogue sounding 70s style hard rock! Highly recommended for fans of bands like Granicus, Jukin' Bone, Blackwater Park, Epitaph etc. http://www.crusherrecords.com/

C. B MURDOC - Two In One (2009 private)
- OK, this may not be what I generally listen to, but the energy of this band is overwhelming! This is hardcore oriented technical death metal, but with a precision and energy that is mind boggling! Well worth checking out for the broad minded! www.myspace.com/cbmurdoc

COLDSPELL - Infinite Stargaze (CD)

Coldspell is a Swedish band that I’ve followed closely since their highly promising demos. Since the demos have only had a few tracks it’s always interesting to see if a band can keep it up for an entire album. “Infinite Stargaze” kicks off with an instantaneous seventies oriented big phat kick in the private parts with opener “Keep On Believin”. But, does it stop there? The answer is an equally big and phat – NO! The train keeps a rolling. It’s great to hear a band that can keep the pace and quality at a high level track after track. This reminds me a bit of The Quill on their earlier stuff before they went more stoner, but it feels like Coldspell have done what The Quill never did, which is to refine the sound, the songs and style to perfection instead of switching musical track. Singer Magnus Swedentorp actually reminds me a bit of The Quill’s Magnus Ekwall mixed with former, long lost, Fifth Angel front man (now dentist) Ted Pilot, as he also has the same type of clean and penetrating voice. It fits perfectly to the guitar/keyboard driven wall of sound the band delivers. Tracks like the outstandingly heavy and riff-oriented “Eye Of The Storm” at times reminds me a bit of a heavier Led Zeppelin, especially in the vocal arrangements. Michael Larsson is a great bluesy, yet technical guitar player fitting the style perfectly. In “Straight Things Out” they take on a more southern tinged eighties touch, a bit like vintage Tesla or Tattoo Rodeo. This album also takes me back a bit to all those outstanding bands and albums that were shelved only because a certain trio from Seattle made the business decide melodic heavy rock was to be cast out, killed and extinguished. Well, fuck ‘em, Coldspell brings back the long lost glory of bands that should have been, like Black Bambi, Arti Tisi etc. (even though I doubt these guys have even heard of said bands). I also came to think a bit of the 1987 Whitesnake in tracks like “Surrounded”, but properly updated and fixed to the personal Coldspell perfection. Another band that came to mind a bit in this track and in some other spots is vintage TNT. This is starting to sound like a list of some of my favourite bands. Did I mention this is one hell of a great band? Debut of the year, no doubt about it!

/Janne Stark

Genre: Classic 70/80s hard rock

Label: Escape

Released: 2009

Country: Sweden

Website: http://www.coldspell.se/

NEONDAZE - Neondaze (CD)

Anyone remember a Swedish band that released a couple of albums in the nineties, called Pole Position? If you do, their guitarist Lars Boquist, a highly underrated one I might add, is now back in action walking the same old path he once created. Neondaze truly sounds like a Pole Position of the new millennium. Stylewise, soundwise and even the new singer Marcus Lundgren sounds very similar to Pole Position vocalist Jonas Blum. Dated? Nope. Some may also remember Lars from his melodic power metal band Reptilian, and even if there are some minor similarities, this is much better in my book. Besides Lars and Marcus, Neondaze consists of Jesper Malm on bass and Hampus Landin on drums. There are some outstanding heavy hitters on this album, such as the slightly Def Leppard-goes-heavy sounding “Livin” with Lars’ guitar slicing the air like a giant razor. Not to forget the subsequent stomper “Stop Crying” and album opener “Intoxicated”, which could be added to the “Highway Soundtrack #1” compilation. However, just like TNT, with whom they also have some similarities, just listen to “Evil In Mind”, there are a few songs that just won’t stick. “Critical Mass” is one I just can’t get a grip of and the ballads “Caroline” and album closer “Oullbemi Vampire” just won’t do it for me. Nice to see Mr Boquist back in action, and great to hear he’s still got the chops. A CD well worth checking out.

/Janne Stark

Genre: Melodi metal

Label: Music Buy mail

Country: Sweden

Year: 2008

Website: http://www.neondaze.net/

SKY HIGH - Download (CD)

Holy shit! Yngström & Co kicks off the new album with a point blank ball buster of a blues rocker. “Rok U” is a highly fitting title on this opening rawker. The subsequent “Lo-Rider” has some immediate good old, and quite rare, ZZ Top vibes the boogie way. The highly weird guitar solo probably Billy Gibbons wouldn’t even have dared doing. Clas does, and me likey – ugly and wicked! Then Clas’ guitar playing has always been slippery, rough and loaded with feeling. Even if I’ve always been a fan of Sky High I’ve never really gone around pining for a new album, but having listened to the new album quite a few times I feel maybe I should have. This is without doubt the best album Sky High has released since “Freezin’ Hot”. I really did like the album “Freedom”, released a few years ago, but I feel “Download” is the winner of the two. Clas of course shows his Hendrixy sides and here one of the cooler things is entitled “Better Place” Another track that kinda sticks out from the traditional Sky High template, is “out Of Time & Out Of Mind” with its cool verse and straight, driving and loud chorus. That Clas’ lyrics often are filled with his personal opinions is a well known fact, and here people in general get a slap in the face in the rock n rolling “People Like Crap”, a song that opens with the foreplay “Touched” where Rockis and James run amok. The album also includes two covers; Free’s old “Stealer” and Johnny Winter’s “Easy Life Rider”. Whoever thought Sky High was down for the cound has made a worse calculating error than the American real estate business. Up the blues horns!

/Janne Stark

Genre: Blues rock

Label: Pike

Year: 2008

Country: Sweden

Website: http://www.skyhighblues.com/

TIME CODE ALPHA - Freakshow (CD)

While waiting for ACT to get their thumbs out and release a follow up to the appropriately entitled “Silence”, please welcome Time Code Alpha. Ok, in all honesty, Time Code Alpha shall be seen as no substitute for ACT, we are talking a new highly interesting band with its own sound but in the same genre here. Time Code Alpha features the undisputed talents of former Biscaya singer Mads Clausen, guitarist Peter Lazar and bass player Ken Sandin who has been seen in bands like Alien, DaVinci, Transport League etc. One of the reasons I compare the band to ACT is because they share the same type of theatrical side to their progressive/symphonic music. We’re talking musical drama here, people. This album is like a movie, with each song going through phases, building up tensions and releasing them. I’m quite impressed with the intriguing arrangements and the way the each song is going through so many different moods and motions. I do hear some vintage Yes in places, but it’s all very much updated. In the dark and heavy “Face The Ground” they build up the same type of melancholia as Evergrey, with Mads even sounding a bit reminiscent of Tom Englund. At times they move in the same terrain as dark prog-masters Pain Of Salvation, like in the, at times, almost dissonant “You Have To Understand” and the totally outstanding and powerful “Illusion”, which also features some small almost Saga-esque titbits. Just when you’re almost drowning in darkness and heavy emotions, in comes the uplifting (at least musically) “Do We Care At All” like a light in the dark. Despite all its chewy musical complexities, the album does have something of a hit in the hum-along-chorus-rocker “Driving My Car”. The production by the band and mix by Andy Laroque are impeccable with a clear, ambient and yet very heavy sound, plus all nice and well incorporated effects that fly by when you least expect it. This is nothing short of a progressive masterpiece by a band I’m already looking forward to hearing more of.
Besides the above musicians the album features a number of guests such as drummer Svetlan Råket (Zello), lead guitarists Andy LaRoque, Johan Randén, Mattias Moberg, Patrik Hansson, singers Angelica Olausson and Fredrika Clausen.
/Janne Stark

Genre: Progressive hard rock
Label: Spinfox
Country: Sweden
Year: 2009
Website: http://www.timecodealpha.com/

THREE MINUTE MADNESS - Disgraceful (CD)

Sometimes I hate trying to label music. Swedish Umeå-based rockers Three Minute Madness is one band I have a hard time describing without using words that may scare some potential listeners away. Ok, it’s modern, it’s quite heavy and it’s melodic. No, there’s no rap and there’s no aggro vocals. I totally love this album. The guys have found a nice mix of modern melodic rock adding little touches of Guns ‘N Roses and even the odd piece that reminds me of later days Europe. The guitar solo in “Open Eyes” definitely has a strong Slash vibe to it. Yes, the album does have classic guitar solos! Here are hints of Foo Fighters, a touch of Creed and a post-grunge touch. They actually remind me of a Swedish band probably no one remembers, called Downstroke. But, never mind the genres and comparisons, this band definitely stands on its own ten legs, strong and proud. Singer Fredrik Norman is one helluva strong part of the bands sound, but without the catchy, well arranged and strong songs he would be singing for deaf ears. This is definitely a band effort where all the pieces fit perfectly together. Great sound, great songs, well played and sung with conviction and feel. So, quit reading this and check out their MySpace to listen for yourself.

/Janne Stark

Genre: Modern melodic hard rock

Label: Mondo Nuevo

Release: 2009

Country: Sweden

Weblink: http://www.myspace.com/threeminutemadness