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March 2023

• Excalion: Once Upon A Time
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February 2023

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January 2023

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[ More Music Reviews ]

Gotthard: #13

Melodic Hard Rock

4.5/5.0

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Nuclear Blast Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.03.2020 | Released: 13.03.2020

Soon to be celebrating 30 years in the business, Gotthard has been one of the most successful Swiss rock acts with 16 number one albums in their own country alone. Yet to my own surprise, my last review of a Gotthard album was 2009's Need To Believe, which was the last album with original vocalist Steve Lee. Lee would die in a tragic motorcycle accident a year later in the United States. But the band continued on with new vocalist Nic Maeder to release three more albums. Now Gotthard returns with lucky album #13, which features, wait for it, 13 songs (and was released on Friday the 13th).

Gotthard

Musically, Gotthard needs little introduction: melodic hard rock with some heavy metal edge, strong song melody and vocal harmony, plenty of groove, rousing riffs and blazing solos, and with all things neatly dressed in catchy AOR accessibility. All these elements come through with songs like Bad News, Every Time I Die, Better Than Love, and No Time To Cry. Alternatively, you'll hear something of a blues vibe working through the heavy rocker Man On A Mission. For Missteria, Gotthard offers a catchy melodic rock tune with some funky groove from the rhythm section. Then the band can mellow for a sweet acoustic ballad, Marry You, which has a delightful piano line after the half. Another ballad arrives with a cover of ABBA's S.O.S., which starts mellow but rises to heaviness after the midpoint. Simply said, #13 finds Gotthard in fine form, offering fans another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted melodic hard rock. Easily recommended.

Ross The Boss: Born Of Fire

Power Thrash Metal

3.0/5.0

Almost two years to the month, guitar legend Ross Friedman (The Dictators, Manowar, Death Dealer, et al) returns with his namesake metal band, Ross The Boss, for ... [ Read More ]

Simply said, #13 finds Gotthard in fine form, offering fans another solid and entertaining album of their well-crafted melodic hard rock. Easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Formed 23 years ago, Finland's Excalion has had a turbulent musical career. Before releasing a trio of albums between 2005 and 2010, they had personnel changes. Currently, only the drummer and keyboard ... [ Read More ]