The Rasmus - Rise (Playground Music)
The Rasmus, remember The Rasmus, having conquered the UK and seemingly the world with their 2003 hit In The Shadows, and from there I'm not sure, as the first time I'd heard their name in a long time was when they were chosen to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The song they entered with, Jezebel, is every bit as catchy as their mega-hit, though a co-write from Desmond Child helps on that score, as I was singing for days afterwards. The song had the same effect when it came to review this album, it was Jezebel that remained lodged in my brain, but I must say most of Rise, The Rasmus' TENTH studio album is just as catchy, filled with pop hooks, electronic flourishes and a base in goth rock, the rejuvenated line up of the band have recaptured the elements that drove a million teenage girls crazy. (Though the abs of steel on frontman Lauri Ylönen help).
The Rasmus, remember The Rasmus, having conquered the UK and seemingly the world with their 2003 hit In The Shadows, and from there I'm not sure, as the first time I'd heard their name in a long time was when they were chosen to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The song they entered with, Jezebel, is every bit as catchy as their mega-hit, though a co-write from Desmond Child helps on that score, as I was singing for days afterwards. The song had the same effect when it came to review this album, it was Jezebel that remained lodged in my brain, but I must say most of Rise, The Rasmus' TENTH studio album is just as catchy, filled with pop hooks, electronic flourishes and a base in goth rock, the rejuvenated line up of the band have recaptured the elements that drove a million teenage girls crazy. (Though the abs of steel on frontman Lauri Ylönen help).
Lauri has doubled down on his songwriting, reminding anyone like me that forgot about the band that he's a talented songwriter and that underneath their pop rock sheen, the lyrics carry a lot of darkness and depth to them. With Desmond Child co-writing four of the tracks here it's his history of hits with Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Kiss, Alice Cooper, that pays dividends on Rise, a record with a distinctly 80's flavour too it. It's a triumph over hardships as all the band live in separate countries, so collaborating was hard, add to that their guitarist leaving, things were starting to go badly for Finland's second most played artist. But Lauri states that what saved them was a nucleus for an idea that turned into Jezebel, after composing it with Child, the creative juices started flowing, Ylönen determined to get Jezebel to Eurovision, he recruited new guitarist Emilia 'Emppu' Suhonen to join him, bassist Eero Heinonen and drummer Aki Hakala, for this reinvigorated The Rasmus line up.
They knuckled down and punched out the 10 tracks on this record all of which are arena ready. From the positive message of Live And Never Die, through the rocky title track, to the moody Be Somebody and the ballad Odyssey, Rise has a myriad of sounds to it, the synths working well to add atmosphere but more than that as the odd stabs on Fireflies or the eerie D'n'B swathes on Evil add more layers. I hadn't kept up with that The Rasmus had been doing since 2003 but when Lauri Ylönen says this is the most accomplished record they have produced I'm inclined to agree as Rise is some prime pop rocking. 8/10
Troy Redfern - The Wings Of Salvation (RED7 Records)
The Wings Of Salvation is Troy Redfern's latest offering and it's probably his most ambitious. When you consider that Redfern has released 6 albums in under two years that's quite a feat, but here the noted slide guitarist has shown off his songwriting skills, proving he's more than just a virtuoso player. Produced by Dave Marks, recorded at Two Wolves and Dulcitone, mixed by Jo Webb at XXX Studios and mastered by Sean Magee at the legendary Abby Road Studios, The Wings Of Salvation is a classic rock album, like the ones Redfern grew up listening too, written in under five weeks, the brevity of the composition is too it's benefit as he's tried to pack as many punches into the record as possible, focusing on short catchy tracks that highlight his fretboard fireworks and gruff vocals.
Troy Redfern - The Wings Of Salvation (RED7 Records)
The Wings Of Salvation is Troy Redfern's latest offering and it's probably his most ambitious. When you consider that Redfern has released 6 albums in under two years that's quite a feat, but here the noted slide guitarist has shown off his songwriting skills, proving he's more than just a virtuoso player. Produced by Dave Marks, recorded at Two Wolves and Dulcitone, mixed by Jo Webb at XXX Studios and mastered by Sean Magee at the legendary Abby Road Studios, The Wings Of Salvation is a classic rock album, like the ones Redfern grew up listening too, written in under five weeks, the brevity of the composition is too it's benefit as he's tried to pack as many punches into the record as possible, focusing on short catchy tracks that highlight his fretboard fireworks and gruff vocals.
This old school ethos translates to the production too as they wanted to capture the vibe in the studio making it sound retro but also bang up to date. Recorded mainly with one guitar and one amp, he gets a steady sound throughout, huge tone that really sells the Americana infused blues rock style of this record. With Redfern on guitars and vocals, producer Dave Marks handles the bass, keys, banjo etc as Paul Stewart was brought in behind the kit, a tight three piece unit, who sound huge to the production skill and the quality of the players.
With the big opener Gasoline pressing the accelerator, Sweet Carolina gets the groove going with a stomp of The Stones or The Crowes, from here we get the smoky Come On while Navajo is the soundtrack to a forgotten Western. Redfern's slide guitar playing is brilliant across the album but there's much wider musical exhibition on this record with the contributions of Marks and Stewart boosting the quality of the songwriting. A song like the mystical Dark Religion feels like the troubadour sound of Tom Waits as Profane is a wild voodoo rocker meanwhile the final song is the gospel 'stomp/clap' of Heart & Soul. All of these ideas coming together to create the best Troy Redfern album so far, with so much creativity though, I'm sure we'll be seeing another soon enough. 8/10
Ginevra - We Belong To The Stars (Frontiers Music Srl)
I misread the band name at first thinking it was Ginerva, expecting a concept record about the Roman (Greek) deity whacked out on Bombay Sapphire but not Ginerva are a new melodic metal band from Frontiers featuring Magnus Karlsson (The Ferryman/Primal Fear) on guitar, Jimmy Jay (H.E.A.T) on bass, Magnus Ulfstedt (ex-Eclipse/Nordic Union) on drums and Seventh Crustal vocalist Kristian Fyhr who is the genus of the band, writing songs different from his day job the band was built around him recruiting Alessandro Del Vecchio on keys/production as well. Ginevra is heavier than Fhyr's day job so adding Karlsson is an inspired touch as his riffs drive the record forward.
Ginevra - We Belong To The Stars (Frontiers Music Srl)
I misread the band name at first thinking it was Ginerva, expecting a concept record about the Roman (Greek) deity whacked out on Bombay Sapphire but not Ginerva are a new melodic metal band from Frontiers featuring Magnus Karlsson (The Ferryman/Primal Fear) on guitar, Jimmy Jay (H.E.A.T) on bass, Magnus Ulfstedt (ex-Eclipse/Nordic Union) on drums and Seventh Crustal vocalist Kristian Fyhr who is the genus of the band, writing songs different from his day job the band was built around him recruiting Alessandro Del Vecchio on keys/production as well. Ginevra is heavier than Fhyr's day job so adding Karlsson is an inspired touch as his riffs drive the record forward.
It's an all Swedish affair for the band and the music is particularly Nordic sounding in the same style as H.E.A.T and Eclipse, guitar focused melodic hard rock that edges on the 'rockier' side. Fyhr's voice is excellent, clear, powerful and richly melodic he's a star for sure so with his songwriting talent and this band behind him, I can't help but think it was a match made in heaven, or at least the Frontiers head office. Tracks such as Unbreakable, My Rock N Roll and Masquerade, which features Chez Kane, all are a testament to the talents of all the musicians here. We Belong To The Stars is nearly 48 minutes of anthemic Nordic heavy rock from this exciting new project. 7/10
Barrel - Bullet With Your Name (Self Released)
Finnish metal band Barrel, meld old and new school influences, with thrash metal riffing and heavy power metal vocals coming together. Bullet With Your Name is their debut EP and despite not having much of a presence online (their Facebook is quite barren) they've let the music do the talking in regards to what they are about as a band.
This three tracker has some melodic anthemic riffs and some guts the title track making me think of Mercyful Fate with Valtteri's vocals in that high Diamond register, but I'd say that the band owe much more the Teutonic metal scene than anywhere else, with bands such as Brainstorm, Grave Digger and Mystic Prophecy. Adonai Elohim speeds things up with crunchy speed metal, that switches into some grooving on the chorus but the German sound is maintained, even as the time signatures shift within the 5 minute run time.
Barrel are new to the scene but I bet money that the band members are all quite experienced as they know how to craft a song. This debut closes with the 8 minute Dying Star where they flex their prog credentials and explore wider musical realms than before, slowing things down in the middle with some saxophone. All in all Bullet With Your Name displays the talent behind this band, if they stick to the more progressive sound they will go far in my opinion. 7/10
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