HIMORA – Argue All You Want (2011)

*

Norwegian rockers HIMORA are playing together, on and off, for about a decade, and now it’s time for their full-length debut “Argue All You Want”.
They have been acted on a couple of Scandinavian tours as a backing band for Eric Martin (Mr. Big) and showing their own material as well.

The band’s style, as described by themselves, is melodic retro rock ‘Cheap Trick meets Bad Company with a bit of old-school Aerosmith thrown in’.
They are clearly influenced by the late ’70s – early ’80s incarnations of the aforementioned bands, mixed with a hint of the commerciality of Mr. Big.
Morten Fredheim has a warm and rich mellow tone, with a timbre which sounds like a cross between a young Lou Gramm and Paul Rodgers. The guitar licks are quite varied and interesting, pretty straight from the valvular amps.

The swagger of “Just Can’t Stop” kicks things off with a catchy rhythm.
“Like A Heart Attack” is then slower, moodier and darker before a more classic feel on the next, “Too Long At The Fair”.
“Birmingham” has a groovy opening bass line and an infectious melody, whilst “Wings” reminds you the very earlier Foreigner.
The melodious “When The Boys Are Back” is influenced by Cheap Trick, “Big Betty” is pretty commercial in the Aerosmith / Climax Blues Band style, and on the shuffle of “Summer Dress” I can hear some hints of Little Feat.
“Fisherman’s Blues” is a nice and melodic semi-slow tune, with a pedal steel arrangement reminiscent of Dobbie Bros.

“Argue All You Want” has a broad, classic rock appeal to fans that already dig this type of familiar, friendly radio rock.
Pleasant. That’s the overriding feeling one gets listening to this one. It’s very, very inoffensive but not in a dull way. What this record does contain are some good melodies and quite quirky lyrics in places, with a melodic and polished sound.
There’s no question that the writers in the band have an ear for melody, although you get the impression that Himora kind of plays it safe with their formula, but “Argue All You Want” is not a bad album nonetheless.
It’s a cool and more than decent rocking disc.

You’ve seen it first here, at zerodayrock

01 – Just Can’t Stop
02 – Like A Heart Attack
03 – Too Long At The Fair
04 – Birmingham
05 – When The Boys Are Back
06 – Wings
07 – Big Betty
08 – Summer Dress
09 – Fisherman’s Blues
10 – Mexico Smile
11 – Legend In Your Lunchbox
12 – This Is The Life (digital download exclusive bonus)

Morten Fredheim: Vocals
Terje Kjorlaug: Guitars
Endre Hallre: Bass
Remi Fagereng: Drums

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