Jump to content

Kim_Hp

2011 HH Donors
  • Posts

    903
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Kim_Hp

  1. It's a mystery alright, although how the band could okay this for release is an even bigger mystery. Also find it intresting that all of the reviews I've read have failed to mention the bizarre mixing and mastering of this record, which kinda makes you question their credibility as rock reviewers. This I don't agree with at all. The thing that makes H.E.A.T the awesome band that they are is that they've never compromised with their sound or felt the urge to follow trends. We all know that they've could have gone the Dynazty route, making hard 'n' heavy records, that would probably have made them an even bigger and more popular band with the masses. Of course that's not what the fans want, and they know that. We want H.E.A.T to sound like H.E.A.T - and I think they've done a damn fine job of that on this record. I don't mind a bit of experimentation, like on Demon Eyes, as long as it's the exception and a temporarily deviation from the trademark sound. As for bangers, I do think there are some here, but they're all ruined to some degree by the poor mixing job. No, they don't reach the awesomeness of let's say "Dangerous Ground" or "Rock Your Body" from the last album, but stuff like "Nationwide", "Not For Sale", "Hold Your Fire" and "Wings Of An Aeroplane" come pretty damn close. Being the AOR fanatic I am, my main criticism with this band is always that I want them to be more AOR, like on the first 2-3 records. If you're looking for a direction, then this record is clearly a distinctive step away from that. They want to be pure melodic hard rock and not AOR, I think it's pretty clear. Truthfully it's been evident from "Tearing Down The Walls" and onward, but Force Majeure makes it even more evident that no change in that direction is very probable. If there's anything that this album doesn't lack, it's guitars. The guitars are so loud in the mix that Kenny´s vocals are drowning in them. The album is unlistenable with good headphones, you have to play it through speakers or earphones to make it somewhat listenable. Other weird little things about this record: CD is released in Europe as a f*cking digipak for some reason. Who's beind this strange and unnecessary decision, the band or the label? Also, no writing credits. You have to go to Discogs or Spotify to find out who wrote these tunes.
  2. Probably true, but I'm thinking of the melodic rock groups where people are not afraid to critic. No mention of the bad mix in those groups as far as I've seen. One could probably make it sound a lot better with some audio software like SoundForge. I'll probably give it a try if both the CD and vinyl are equally bad.
  3. I'm starting to wonder if my headphones are working properly since so few others seems to have noticed the totally messed up mix on this album. Some on this board seem to have noticed it, but not on FB? I can't believe the band let this piece of shit through?! It's such a shame, because the songs themselves are fantastic. Edit: the funny thing is, when I listened to these songs through the speaker of my mobile phone, they sounded just fine to me. When I put the headphones on, it was just a mess. They should sound better through headphones, not worse.
  4. Is it just me or is there something seriously wrong with the mix on this one? I listened to it on Spotify and Kenny´s vocals are totally overpowered by the loud guitars. So weird!
  5. Only heard a few songs so far but sounds excellent to me. I guess we will never have a full fledged AOR record from these guys again though, which is a bit of a shame. They are pure melodic hard rock these days. I wonder if "Demon Eyes" is a leftover from the New Horizon sessions. Certainly the heaviest song the band has ever recorded.
  6. Like most Swedes, I was born and raised on ABBA. Fantastic band with many great songs. I have to agree with Glen. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Winner Takes It All" are two of my top faves as well.
  7. There was a question in a Facebook group the other day regarding what everyone considers the greatest AOR debut album of all time, and I think this album was mentioned 6 or 7 times. Today I read a comment about it being the "best melodic rock album in 20 years". For granted, I haven't heard the entire thing but the songs I have heard, I was not all that impressed by. It certainly didn't stick out as anything special or something that hasn't already been done (and done better) many times before.
  8. When Kenny first left, I was very upset, and it took me a while to warm up to Erik. but after four excellent albums I have really come to like this guy and prefer him in the band over Kenny. Even though it is cool to see Kenny back, this is not good news. I also always felt that with Erik as a frontman, they would have a much greater chance at mainstream success. Erik is a better frontman and singer than Kenny. On the other hand, Kenny is a better songwriter, so it should be intresting to see what they can come up with for the next album. Why not bring Eric Rivers back too for a TOTAL reunion of the original line-up whilst they're at it? That would just be mega fantastic. but first, grow back your hair Eric!
  9. Adrenaline is by far the worst track on this LP. Best tracks : Rock Your Body, Dangerous Ground, Come Clean, Heaven Must Have Won An Angel, Under The Gun.
  10. True, although the name itself comes from the fact that the style mainly developed in studio musician environments on the US westcoast through 70's and early 80's.
  11. We Are Gods seems to be the least popular song judging from comments elsewhere too. Personally I have no problem with it, but it certainly isn't one of the best tracks.
  12. If anything, what this album is lacking is a few pure AOR numbers like they had on "Address the Nation" or "Freedom Rock". That is the missing piece that would have pushed this album over the top for me. I guess "Nothing To Say" is the closest to that here but it's more of a ballad of sorts...
  13. Yeah, me too. By any other bands standards, "Into the Great Unknown" would have been a monster album. but just because it's H.E.A.T, people find things to whine about. I can't remember how many comments I've read on YouTube etc about how this record sucked, and how they've now "returned" to their roots. Save for 2 or 3 songs, it wasn't an experimental album at all but 100% pure, classic H.E.A.T.
  14. That's how I interpeted these lyrics as well. bit unusual and obscure lyric topic for these guys...not least considering Jona Tee is a Christian from what I remember. or maybe I have him mixed up with some one else...
  15. IMO, "Address the Nation" is still their best record with Erik. Closely followed by "Tearing Down the Walls" and this one. That said, "Dangerous Ground" has to be their best song since "Danger Road".
  16. Geoff, thanks for the reply. Yeah explains a bit, of course I don't agree but still. And btw, as for the lyrics I've heard far far worse than what's on this CD. Poor AOR lyrics to me are like the ones that Wild Rose writes, this is like Shakespeare compared to that garbage. As for "Queen of the Prom" you will be intrested to know that it's Michael Palace´s own favorite song on this album, lol.
  17. Second that. Strange choice indeed...
  18. Haha, "theatrical". I'm sorry Geoff if I accidently recommended the debut and then everyone else came in and told you how bad it was and how you would regret your purchase. I'm really sorry. Maybe they do sound a bit like Pride of Lions, I haven't thought of that. But I like Pride of Lions... I like this CD and would give it a solid 8 or 9. The problem with all of these new Swedish AOR bands though is that they basically all sound the same. You put any of these tracks with another vocalist and it could just as well have been a Work of Art, Creye or Care of Night song. No one would have noticed any difference. I do think that these guys are definitely one of the top bands of the movement. Great vocals, great songs. I didn't care much for the ballads though, but other than that, great stuff,.
  19. I honestly don't know what happened to you Geoff. Awful? Not even good? Decent? After having read your comments on these forums for many years and knowing that you're heavily into all the Scandi stuff (H.E.A.T., Miss Behaviour and so on), I would have thought you would be all over this stuff. Strange. Maybe "Queen Of The Prom" is too "Queen" for people who are not fans of that band, but the rest? Where are these terrible tunes everyone is talking about? I sure know a terrible tune when I hear it but I sure haven't come across any on this album. Maybe there are hidden tracks? And this talk about 80's pop...get real people. Yeah this is more high-tech AOR than the previous one, but never "pop". Not even close. You guys stick to your One Desire's and Brother Firetribe's or other second rate 80's copycats and leave the real deal for us others to enjoy. Rant over!
  20. A H.E.A.T. greatest hits without "Danger Road"? Someone surely screwed up on that one.
  21. Very interested to hear this one. The debut was pretty stellar and while the W.O.A. reference might be valid the debut totally destroys everything that band ever did, IMO.
  22. Damn how the "Africa" cover they did sucked. Still, interesting to hear this one done in a metal tapping.
  23. I don't know what you guys are smoking, but I would sure like some of it. This is stellar stuff, just like the debut was. And yes, Geoff, this is basically a solo studio project of Michael Palace who produces and handles all of the instruments except the drums which are played by Daniel Flores. A shame that he decided to cut his hair off, he looks like a rapper on the back cover of the album now which kinda destroys the 80's feel of the entire thing.
  24. Glen, on 17 Jan 2017 - 1:44 PM, said: lol, sorry about that Glen. I was at work when I posted that and didn't have time to elaborate any further. My answer to this is basically very simple... real AOR has to contain at least a minimum amount of keys, while melodic rock necessarily must not... that is the main difference. Melodic rock I would say is that gray area between AOR and melodic hard rock that many bands operates within, not least nowdays...case in point: the latest Palace CD. Classic example of a melodic rock record, where most of the music is too heavy to fit within the classic AOR spectrum while still too light to be labelled pure melodic hard rock. You basically have a 50/50 mix of those two genres and that's the definition of melodic rock in my book. Now the thread starter was wondering where arena rock fitted into all this and my answer to that is also very simple... Arena Rock is not really a seperate genre but as a musical style concept basically synonymous with the pure AOR style of bands like Journey, Foreigner, Boston and so on. There are so many of these labels tossed around everywhere but when we talk about AOR as an overarching style concept, there are really only three main subgenres where you can cathegorize most bands and that is the lightweight or westcoast style, the classic style and the hard or melodic hard rock style. I'll explain what I mean by that...(also cut and pasted from my article on the subject)
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.