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Volster: Perfect Storm
Volster - Perfect Storm Music Review

Volster: Perfect Storm

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
5.0/5.0

Sometimes it takes a long time and a long road to get to where you're going. Volster has its roots in the Nineties Swedish band Masquerade. Guitarist Ulf Andersson and bass player Henrik Lundberg created Volster in 1996 with a four song demo, which essentially went nowhere. The band mates revisited the songs in 2013 and decided to proceed with the project. The result is their debut album, Perfect Storm, with the addition of vocalist Peter Tenning and drummer Daniel Granlund (Syconaut).

Volster Band Photo

Volster

Musically, Volster basically blurs the line between melodic hard rock and heavy metal, and then adds a dose of modern d-tuned groove. After a spin or two, I'm leaning more toward slightly d-tuned melodic heavy metal with a hard rock groove, and then wrapped in AOR accessibility. Breaking this down a little more, you'll notice the strong guitar presence with sharp riffage, fine harmony, and soaring leads. If you love ripping guitar solos, you'll dig Volster. After this is the sweet rhythm and groove from the bass and drums that powers each song. Lastly, Tenning is fine vocalist with a strong presence, singing clean, melodic, and with control. The timbre of his voice easily blends and binds with the melody and harmony of the guitar lines.

As for the songs within Perfect Storm, I can honestly say there's not one that disappoints. Straight up metal rockers come with King Of The Hill, Ends With Me, Perfect Storm, and Breathless. For some interesting variation tune into the lighter electric guitar and voice start of Still In Love. Babylon has a sweet bass and drum start that moves into a smooth steady groove. About the midpoint, there's a breakdown of Middle Eastern guitar which leads to smooth solo. With I Don't Care, the bass and drums once more lead the songs groove before brisk riffage swells the arrangement. Drifting does something similar, but with the bass and drums being softer to start before amping up with riffage for a subdued softer hard rocker. As mentioned earlier, across the album there's a truckload of killer guitar solos. Suffice to say, for a debut album, Volster has hit a home run with Perfect Storm, a very satisfying album of melodic heavy metal with an abundance hard rock groove. Easily recommended.



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The Bottom Line

For a debut album, Volster has hit a home run with Perfect Storm, a very satisfying album of melodic heavy metal with an abundance hard rock groove. Easily recommended.

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