| CD REVIEW Hard |
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Band : Hard First time I came across this keyboard-driven Classic Rock act, was when it still had a completely Hungarian line-up, and had its name spelled H.A.R.D.. The album was Traveller, originally released in 2008 on a Hungarian label, then licenced by several labels for distributions in other areas of the world. It eventually came into our neck of the woods later in 2008, resulting in a review (yours truly) posted 4 January 2009. That still being available for fact-finding scrutiny, it's where I will direct you for info on the band's antecedents. As mentioned in said review, the line-up of the band went through a slight change right after the album's release, and in August 2009 the band announced that they were to enlist Swedish singer/ guitarist/ keyboardist (and producer) Björn Lodin (known from his work with Baltimoore) into their fold. It's with the new singer in place that the guys released their sophomore album Time Is Waiting For No One (issued through Escape Music in Europe, through Nightmare Music in North America during February 2010, you'll find a review by colleague Erik posted 13 May of the same year). Suddenly everything was happening for the band as they'd intended: besides making it onto their country's own bigger festival stages, they were now also playing festivals outside Hungary, and even made a support slot with Kiss (May 28, 2010). Well, now the third album's here, and I'm not sure when it actually happened (this may actually be the same band as on the sophomore album), but the line-up is again different from the one I know. The only constants for sure are Bodin and bassist/ backing singer Gábor Mircovics (mis-wrote his name in my 2009 review). New to me are guitarist/ keyboardist/ backing singer Zsolt Vámos (previously of Napoleon Boulevard, Exotic, and Marathon) and drummer/ backing singer Zsolt Borbély (formerly of Mohó Sapiens and Nox). What is probably still the same as with the sophomore album, is the band's overall sound as mentioned by colleague Erik, with the Krokus influences coming foremost from Bodin's raspy high-pitched voice. In two cases (“Somewhere” and album closer “In Your Arms”) the band goes ballad, allowing Bodin to showcase his voice with some “calmer” emotions. To get acquainted with the music, check the live videos (no sound files) available at (www.) myspace.com/hardhungaria. Regretfully, those are for material of the 2nd album. You will most certainly find 30-second samples of all songs at iTunes. Amazon carries the album too! As for my personal appreciation of this album...it sure rates higher than the first album I heard by the lads, and Bodin's great vocal stylings can said to be responsible for that! But although I won't ever put Even Keel into any of my year-lists, it certainly is a good listen. In fact...give it a couple of years, and the album may well become a Summer blockbuster. I mean, here's the kind of album one would put on during a hot Summer's eve while lulling out on the porch in a rocking chair (not that I own one, mind you), a cool drink at hand. 85/100 Tony. |
