If you think the new
Treat album's got a lot of immense choruses, then listen to
'Confessions'.
And let's namecheck a few other bands just to set the mood here. Gun, circa "Gallus",
Harem Scarem when they got Rubberised and 'Pull' era
Winger are three more - this Swedish band's first full length studio album is just brimming over with abrasive melodic rock, clanging, clattering rhythms and ringing, zinging guitars.
'Pray' and the title track
'Confessions' are full blooded MHR. Vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, producer Jocke Nilsson peppers these tracks with fine textural details, showing invention and ambition.
'Another Night' has hints too of the Backstreet Boys, music with a solid melodic rock soul and a poppified modern edge.
There isn't a stumble or a misplaced step on this recording. Years in the making, these are battle hardened songs that come out their corner punching hard - way above their weight - with relentless riffs sparring over massive melodies and sturdy hooks.
They sneak the occasional funky groove into the room, speed dating it with tough as teak riffs on
'Blackout' and
'Love & Affection', knocking us out with slick harmonic footwork and heartstopping hooks.
'Good Is Getting Better',
'Rock Of Ages' and '
Part Of Evolution' are angular, driving rockers. They strip the polish off eighties AOR, revealing a grittier, more resilient shade of melodic rock, ready for combat, willing and able to stand toe to toe with anything today's pretenders have to offer.
Arguably, the overly sentimental lyrics on the balladic '
Miracles' let down a wonderful melody and arrangement, but given the surrounding quality, it's easy to forgive, especially when it's followed by the marvellous melodic rock stomp, '
Someday Somehow'.
It's strange that for a band active since 1987, this is their first full length release. Unquestionably though, any fan of the genre will be delighted that
Angeline got there in the end - few bands release an album of this calibre at any point in a multi album career.
Hopefully,
Angeline have reached the beginning.
Written by
Brian Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 8/10Members: 10/10 - Average of 1 ratings.
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