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Big City: Testify X

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 07.07.2021 | Released: 16.07.2021

Hailing from Norway, Big City is a not-so-new band established by guitarist and songwriter Daniel Olaisen (Scariot) better than seven years ago. Olaisen recruited several other Norwegian musicians to form the core of the band including guitarist Frank Orland (also Scariot) and Withem drummer Frank Nordeng Roe. Big City dropped their debut album Wintersleep in 2014, followed by Big City Life in 2018. Now Big City returns with third long player, Testify X, featuring new vocalist Jørgen Bergersen from Rock The Night, and European cover band.

Big City

Essentially, but in the best sense, Big City is a throwback band: reimagining the glory days of Eighties melodic hard rock for 2021. Their sound is that familiar combination of melodic hard rock infused with some metal edge, yet still offering plenty of AOR sensibility. With two guitarists in the band and songwriting mix you can expect the songs within Testify X to have strong riffs, fine guitar harmony, and an abundance of terrific guitar solos. You'll certainly hear this triumvirate within such fast and heavy rockers like The Rush, Testify, Graveyard Love, and Conception. But that latter song along with the heavier ballad I Will Fall sway between riff heaviness and softer moments with the vocals come in. Alternatively, there's rip-roaring Heart's Like A Lion which could be quickly taken for power metal in its speed. Another stand out is Dark Rider where the bass line starts the groove before some bombastic riff harmony envelopes the song guiding it into another quick-paced rocker. The wild card throughout was Bergersen's vocals which quite often were unintelligible to this listener. But the vocalist had some strong music to contend with. Nevertheless, all things considered, Big City and Testify X offers fans a strong platter of twin guitar driven, metal-infused, melodic hard rock. Recommended.

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

All things considered, Big City and Testify X offers fans a strong platter of twin guitar driven, metal-infused, melodic hard rock. Recommended.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]

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