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Malison Rouge: Malison Rouge

Melodic Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

3.75/5.0

Inner Wound Recording
Website Facebook MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  03.14.2011

Malison Rouge is an upstart band from Sweden, releasing their self-titled debut album on Inner Wound Recordings with production handled by the ever versatile Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion, et al). Malison Rouge has a distinctive mid-Eighties melodic hard rock and heavy metal sound, with a definite touch of the NWOBHM heritage. You may also hear inspiration from likes of Iron Maiden, Queensyrche, and Fate's Warning.

On heavier side, Malison Rouge delivers on Friend or Foe and Scars, though latter also has distinct hints of progressive character. Then the band offers rock groove on the fast-paced numbers The Pain You Cause and We're All Born Sinners. Echoing the best of those Eighties bands, Malison Rouge delivers a true power ballad in My Mistakes, a sentimental song of confession and epic proportions. Other songs like The Griever and Everything Faces, though quite good, require more than a little patience to absorb and enjoy. The former starts slow and plods along, the latter takes some time to develop. The only other objection to this debut is that it's too short: only 8 songs at less than 40 minutes.

Nevertheless, Malison Rouge has put together an ambitious and entertaining debut, with the promise of a great future. Recommendation: crank it up an extra notch and give several spins to persuade you.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Malison Rouge has put together an ambitious and entertaining debut, with the promise of a great future. Recommendation: crank it up an extra notch and give several spins to persuade you.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]