Album Review - Gotthard - Need to Believe

"Domino Effect" was a blow-your-mind hard rock extravaganza, and an "event" of 2007. Just saying it was an album that was released in that particular year, completely downplays its sheer "Awesomeness". A follow up was awaited with breathless intensity and instead Gotthard gave us... this. "Need to Believe" is bubbling over with political and world weary commentary and seems to have ditched the vindictive fun vibes that made "Domino" a disc of endless replay value and hard rock significance.

It is not a great album, nor is it a bad one, but its inbetween "meh" state just doesn't seem to be haughty enough to be worthy of the Gotthard name. Then again, how many bands could have successfully followed up a groundbreaker like that anyway? Yet the songs just don't seem to do the band justice and fall into the cracks typical for a band that has been around the block (and circling it) for over a dozen odd years. You've heard it done before, probably better even, but can't resist the fact that these songs have a new paint job slapped on the worn surface. You definitely get a solid album, just not one that's going to rearrange your world anytime soon. A shame, that.

The opener is exotic Eastern flavored energetic rock. "Shangri-La" has a modern touch and a catchy flavor that puts it somewhere along the lines of current poppy Def Leppard. Not built to last, but good for a few go-rounds, as it flaunts the most spectacular grooves and rock savvy curves of the bunch. "Unspoken Words" can be pegged as classic Gotthard, but you could also match it up with a half dozen other songs from their catalogue, so just file it under "rock" and be done with it. There's a good chorus floating around in here if you poke at it long enough.

"Need to Believe" pulls out the power and emotion, wielding it like some giant ungainly stick as it flails you senselessly over the head with it. Ballad tendencies, but never falling into that full fledged "real ballad" rut, this one remains close to its surging power struggle and anthemic aspirations. One of the better tracks on the album. "Unconditional Faith" and the equally indifferent "Break Away" both thud in their own unique ways. "Unconditional" has a stringy, twangy acoustic setting that claws at the mind like some monster with a hole for a middle and "Break Away" is just another rock work out exercise.

"I Don't Mind" is thick and modern with an irregular chorus and a few breaks of sweet guitar work. "Right From Wrong" is another traditional Gotthard track in the rock'n'roll direction, "Rebel Soul" is a bit harder hitting but more of the same. There's nothing that really separates these from one another, they just kind of run together like wet paint. Cut and paste, change a few things and boom, another rocker.

"I Know, You Know" has a moodier atmosphere but its outspoken stance on abuse, neglect and other heartbreaking topics limits the mass appeal. You have to give them props for putting focus on something wider ranging like this, but at the same time, it also knocks the appeal back a few spaces, because seriously who wants to hear something this harsh and broken over and again? The tides of love are a much more universal topic... and thus round off the album in a pair of heart blooded ballads. "Don't Let Me Know" supplies "the" killer chorus of the album, locked up in this emotion stirring little ballad, while the final punch of "Tears to Cry" leaves you bereft at the end. Their ballads have frequently become works of art, and these two are no exceptions to the rule.

"Need to Believe" is a predictably strong disc, even if not an eternally memorable one. Steve Lee's voice is strong and emotive, the backing music keeps track of the nuances and the lyrics just kind of fall into their proper places. The biggest missing component is all the insanely infectious guitar melodies that twisted their way through "Domino Effect", and of course the instant songs that snatch up your soul and run with it. Gotthard's latest just seems so average in comparison, even through it has a solid enough essence.
Solid doesn't necessary translate into "interesting" however. Maybe next time they will feel more like pushing the boundaries once again, but for now we "Need to Believe" that the next album will be the killer, instead of this, which just seems kind of worn out and sad like a fading star.

Written by Alanna
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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Ratings

Alanna: 6.5/10

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