| CD REVIEW Meleeh |
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Band : Meleeh Good heavens…has it really already been almost 2 ½ years since I first came in contact with this Gavle (Sweden) based Progressive Hardcore band through their second album Heartland (review posted 29/09/2007, and still available for your fact-finding needs)? Back then, very little info was available to me, and although it’s not a lot, here’ss the extras: Meleeh’s birth was about six years ago. I can now tell you that singer Thomas’ family name is Florén, and that of guitarist/ backing singer Thomas is Österberg, the rest of the band (second guitarist Björn Olszewski, bassist David Zackrisson, and drummer Fredrik Gillhagen) still being the same as on their previous album, which earned the band lots of positive press. Then, by putting in a lot of effort touring as much as possible for Heartland, Meleeh gained themseelves a reputation as one of the hardest working acts in the European Hardcore scene. The new album was recorded at Gavle’s Bokadillo Palace Studio with producer Magnus Björk (known from his work with the likes of Children Of Fall, Jesaiah, and Lack), whom (according to the thankslist) pushed the band to the limit of their abilities. And I have to say the band has really grown in technical and songwriting abilities. The 9 tracks (plus neglectably short intro) definitely constitute the filling for the “room for improvement” which I talked about in my review of Heartland, and I simply lóve the overall darker atmosphere the band put in their songs. Lyrically, you still get a mixture of personal and political issues, for the most time screamed at the listener with great emotion, without becoming Emo or Screamo! And the band allowed for some variety with the inclusion of a couple of calmer moments (spoken word second part of “Sun And Moon”, instrumental track “Panegryc” and the somewhat melancholically sang ensuing “Thorns For Flowers”) on the album, during which the guitarists also occasionally go for a somewhat more atmospheric, albeit “Noisebient” approach. In other words, the boys hàve grown in a positive way! At least, that’s how I personally look at things. Not that the band now gets its new album nominated into my year-lists, but this is definitely the kind of Progressive Hardcore I like very, véry much!!! You can check how you feel about it for yourself by listening to the tracks (two off every one of the three albums the band has released to date) posted at myspace.com/meleeh! Or you can go check the band out on stage during their European tour that starts on February 12 and passes through Belgium (JH De Faar in Meerhout, JK Paddestoel in Brussels, and Café Molotov in Gent on respectively the 18th, 19th, and 23rd). 90/100 Tony. |