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Treat: The End Game
Treat - The End Game Album Art

Treat: The End Game

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.04.2022 | Released: 08.04.2022

You know things are (almost) right with the world when Sweden's Treat returns with a new album. Worldwide pandemic be damned, the resilient quintet makes their mark on the melodic hard rock genre with their ninth studio album, The End Game. Don't read anything into that title; the band is not bowing out of the game. The "end game" for Treat has always been about creating memorable rock songs.

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Treat

That is no exception with the new album. It has all the Treat trademarks: bold and assertive riffs, an energetic and robust rhythm section, heaps of song melody and harmony (of course, in the vocals and guitars), keyboards for accent, and randy guitar solos. All these things are wrapped up in equally robust, even toe-tapping, almost dance-like, rock groove. When this is merged with the harmony of the lead and backing vocals, the Treat "sound" is immensely self-evident, even dramatic (overdubs help with that too). It also means, as a huge fan, I'm hardly objective in my comments. Deal. On to highlight a few songs.

Bold swift rockers abound with Jesus From Hollywood, Carolina Rocker, Sinbiosis, and Rabbit Hole, the latter two being especially heavy. If only to trip you up, both Home Of The Brave and Both Ends Burning apply some piano and synths before jumping to solid melodic hard rock. It may be just my ears, but the opening piano of the latter reminded (slightly) of early Elton John. But the song envelopes into a Treat rocker all the same. My Parade dials back things slightly and momentarily for an arena anthem. A more traditional ballad comes with Magic where piano leads into a slower, quite dense, arrangement with a subdued guitar solo and more rising piano moments afterwards. What can we conclude, then? Treat's The End Game is another finely-crafted and entertaining album of AOR melodic hard rock from one of the modern legends of the genre. Easily recommended.




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The Take Away

Treat's The End Game is another finely-crafted and entertaining album of AOR melodic hard rock from one of the modern legends of the genre. Easily recommended.

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