Recension Gotthard - Need to Believe 2009

Tracks:
01. SHANGRI-LA
02. UNSPOKEN WORDS
03. NEED TO BELIEVE
04. UNCONDITIONAL FAITH
05. I DON´T MIND
06. BREAK AWAY
07. DON´T LET ME DOWN
08. RIGHT FROM WRONG
09. I KNOW, YOU KNOW
10. REBEL SOUL
11. TEARS TO CRY

Band:
Steve Lee - vocals
Leo Leoni - guitars
Freddy Scherer - guitars
Marc Lynn - bass guitar
Hena Habegger - drums

Discography:
Domino Effect (2007)
Lipservice (2005)
Human Zoo (2003)
Homerun (2001)
Open (1999)
G. (1996)
Dial Hard (1994)
Gotthard (1992)

Info:
Richard Chycki – Producer and Engineer

Released: September -09
Reviewed: 7/10-2009

Links:
gotthard.com
myspace
nuclear blast

New release by these guys from Switzerland (or was it Austria, no matter) and the Alps, a bunch of alpinists we can say, musical alpinists. They have released a new album which cries for a need to believe. An album which has taken me some time to get reviewed, I actually got it just before Rockweekend in Kilafors this July I think, but it is not until now I have managed to squeeze in a review of the same record. However, it was released in September so it is not that bad really.

I have listened to and reviewed Gotthard albums earlier so in a way I knew a bit of what to expect. Still, Gotthard is a big and well regarded band in the home nation but also well-known internationally especially for fans of the rock/metal genre. Probably they are selling well and are known with all right as I have liked what they have done prior to this.

Musically it is simplistic rock or hard rock music with catchy melodic choruses with lots of attention to the melodies but also to the simplicity of the songs. Always straightforward with no real deviations in other directions to detract from the songs, and they have no excessive soloing or instrumental exaggeration, just straight to the point rock’n’roll.

It is powerful music which is done in the way this genre should be done, strong and melodic with powerful choruses that can bring even the biggest critic down. There is nothing that can make anyone take out the saw in order to write down this record, it is a good record and if you have heard the band before you will know exactly what it is all about and if anything is to be a negative for this record it is that fact: that the record sounds a bit much like the albums before it.

But from starting Shangri-La to ending Tears to Cry I am caught listening and enjoying what I hear. There are many powerful songs throughout the records but the best ones are probably Shangri-La, the title track, Unconditional Faith, I Know You Know and the ending track Tears to Cry. All these songs are real hit songs that could receive radio time on most stations and people would probably enjoy them as well.

So this record is spinning its way into a high rating just like the album before it and if there is anything I don’t care much for with this album is the fact that it sounds a bit like its predecessor and there is no track like superstrong hit song Lift U Up which was the real highnote on Lipservice.

Anyway not complaining, this is in itself a really strong album which is enough for me to awards another high rating for Gotthard.

Gotthard - Lift U Up

HHHHHHH