Confirming that their belief in old school melodic rock remains undiminished, Gotthard have released the balladic 'The Call' as the first single in Japan.
There's more than a hint of poignancy to this track. It's almost bitter in tone, yet remains unashamedly melodic. It's muscular, riffy, yet it's tender in all the right places.
It delves deeply into dark, moody territory, before emerging triumphant with an emotive, towering hook.
This maxi single consists of the album and radio edit versions, plus the previously unreleased (in Japan) 'Can't Be The Real Thing' and a bonus video clip of 'The Call'.

Danish artist Langhoff is currently a relative unknown. That should change if this 5 track EP, 'Hollywood' is representative of the full album he's working on.
It's part Westcoast and part sophisticated pop, and is a thoroughly effecting combination of the two. You can hear echoes and shades of genre greats here, from Bobby Caldwell's consummate cool to Third Matinee's insinuative, urban (and indeed urbane) angst.
It sways and swells with melancholy melodies, a darker undercurrent running through tracks like 'Silence'.
Westcoast can often drift dangerously close to the middle of the road, but no danger here.
An edgy but compelling lead guitar and a contemporary approach to the arrangements and production carefully steers 'Hollywood's pop/westcoast vibe in its chosen direction.
There's an elegant grace running through Langhoff's work, ensuring that both the mellow 'Lullaby' and the ambitious 'Riddle' feel equally at home.

With a couple of best selling albums behind him, 'Rhythm Of Life' and 'Kids Of The Rockin' Nation', Jimmy Martin is no stranger to fame. But it's probably his recent production work with the legendary Clif Magness that's bestowed instant credibility on him by the melodic rock cognoscenti.
Now, his collaboration with an arguably bigger name, Rick Springfield, on 'Love Somebody', the lead off single from forthcoming album 'So Many Things To Say', pushes him into the spotlight once again.
The song is an unusual marriage of New Jersey and Western Europe. The verse & bridge are very Springsteen / Jovi, whereas the chorus has an immediate Europop vibe, rescued from cheesiness by an inviting hook, and it works surprisingly well.
Of the 4 versions here - radio, dance, solo and rock - the dance version is great fun and the rock version head noddingly, toe tappingly enjoyable.
I have to say 'bonus' track, 'Love The Night Away' is a real find and a genuine gem of a song. Recorded live at rehearsals for his last UK tour, it's a little rough around the edges, but it clearly captures a moment. Laurie Wisefield lays down a resoundingly riffy, guitar shaped foundation, embellished with a honking sax from Don Snow, while Martin obviously has a blast, cranking out a powerful vocal performance.

Leverage's 'Tides' album created quite a stir among the melodic rock / metal community on its release last year. It also created a demand for new product.
So, while songwriter/guitarist/mainman Tuomas Heikkenin puts together a new album, the label, Elements Music, have packaged this neat little EP for hungry fan consumption.
It comprises of 'Follow Down That River', one of the better tracks from 'Tides', plus the 2 Japan only bonus tracks 'Waterfall' and 'Land Of Flames', with a live version of 'Stranger' as a welcome extra.
Like the rest of the material on 'Tides', both 'Waterfall' (what is this obsession with water?) and 'Land Of Flames' plough the same melodic metal furrow, cutting through the heavy rock landscape cleanly, crisply, uncovering traces of the band's influences.
Roll on album number two.

The Poodles' 2006 debut, 'Metal Will Stand Tall' made even more waves, breaking into the mainstream throughout Northern Europe.
And again, demand for new material has been ferocious.
Consequently, a single, 'Seven Seas' - a trailer for the next album has been released, and to be honest has been available for a few months now.
Interestingly, it charted in Sweden the week it was released and has remained a Top Forty single ever since.
The song is a prime slice of slick, vaguely Queen-esque hard rock, very accessible.
The tight knit dynamic the band have created with producer, Matti Alfonzetti is again immediately apparent.
The single comes with only two tracks - each a different edit of 'Seven Seas', but it's worth a splash just the same.

Ratings
Gotthard - The Call: 8/10
Langhoff - Hollywood: 7/10
Jimmy Martin - Love Somebody: 7/10
Leverage - Follow Down That River: 7/10
Poodles - Seven Seas: 7.5/10

Written by Brian
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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Ratings

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