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Bad Habit: Atmosphere
Bad Habit: Atmosphere
Melodic Rock
4.0/5.0
AOR Heaven Records
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by Kees-Jan Stel, 02.07.2011
A new Bad Habit album is always something to look forward to. For years the Swedes have put out quality melodic rock albums, although the last one (Above and Beyond) is already three years behind us. Their latest effort is named Atmosphere and comes to us through AOR Heaven. And letting the album title sink in, straight away I know what to expect. Personally I associate Bad Habit with melodic, moody, sometimes cheesy melodic rock with a touch of AOR in the vein of bands such as House Of Lords, Streettalk and Khymera. So without thinking I push the disc in the tray banking on a fine cut of great atmospheric stuff.
But how wrong can you be. The Bad Habit of 2011 has a different opinion on Atmosphere. This one has me wrong-footed completely. The atmosphere on this platter is much heavier than on Above And Beyond and differs substantially from what I would anticipate from this veteran quintet. Check out the opening trio of In The Heat Of The Night, Words Are Not Enough and Every Time You Cry. Unfamiliar, yet crunching riffs come rolling out of the speakers and make you wonder if you are listening to yet again a sensational new heavy metal band from Scandinavia. The first melodic track, I Wanna Be With You, only checks in when the display indicates track 04. But the harder edged stuff picks up with I'll Die For You.
From here the album actually becomes the melodic rock disc that I was anticipating, but the consistency and versatility remain very strong. The AOR flavor is represented by We Are The One, Break The Silence and Without You. The power ballads Angel Of Mine, Save Me and Fantasy complete the line up. In many ways Atmosphere reminds me a of last years Coup De Grace by Treat. Just as mature, versatile, well produced and convincing. And let me remind you of the fact that Dangerdog Music Reviews rated that as the best album of 2010!
Is there something wrong with the Atmosphere here? Don't be afraid, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, in fact it's damn good. Every melodic rock fan who occasionally likes a slice of heavy metal cannot go wrong with this one. It's not what I was expecting from Bad Habit but I hope they keep wrong footing me in the future.
In Short
Is there something wrong with the Atmosphere here? Don't be afraid, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, in fact it's damn good. Every melodic rock fan who occasionally likes a slice of heavy metal cannot go wrong with this one.
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