LESS THAN 4 – By Blood By Heart (2012)
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LESS THAN 4 is a band from Sweden formed in late 2007. They brought out an EP in 2009 and they just released the debut full length album “By Blood By Heart”.
The first thing that impress from this hard rock trio is their age; vocalist and guitarist Max Landegren and bassist Stefan Westlund were barely entering puberty when they founded the band. Now they’re 18 and 19, respectively. Add this: their drummer, Ludwig Tornemalm, is only 15.
But their youth doesn’t mean they sound inexperienced or messy, Less Than 4 shows more than a little maturity in songwriting and musicianship in this recording.
Their chosen style is basically ’80s hard rock, melodic yet with the sleaze angle. They’re in the same category with fellow Scandinavian peers like Hardcore Superstar plus a generous dose of all things coming from USA in the late ’80s and early ’90s such as Motley Crue and the hair metal days of Kiss, except they pull it off with just three players.
As singer, Max Landegren has that coarse throaty style that normally comes from an older rocker who has already drank his fill of whiskey. Also, Landegren is no slouch with the six-string wither as his solos are prominent and piercing.
The music has punch, basically full throttle from the start.
Amidst of all this blistering hard rock, LT4 easily blends accessible hooks and catchy choruses. In “It For the Money”, “By Blood By Heart” and “Living Dreams” are some of the best examples.
On the harder side, “Fucked Up Kid” is dirty and intense with some winks to Crashdiet, while “Deadlock” and “Bad Like A Gun” looks in the US hard rock mirror.
“Soft Situations” is almost melodic rock with a nineties sound, and for “Nothing Is Thicker” they go for a semi-ballad midtempo in the Neverland (USA band) style.
What got you first while listening to “By Blood By Heart” is the powerful solid sound that takes you back to the ‘80s and ‘90s hairbands vibe, played with blood, sweat and tears.
Guitar lines are shining, bass and drums are rocking and vocals are sounding sincere and passionate, and the way the album is recorded and produced does underline the energy behind these songs by making the sound jump out and ready to walk straight in.
“Blood By Heart” is a strong debut from such a young band with an immense future. Hopefully, the debauchery of the rock lifestyle and the perils of the road will not hinder their growth.
Good rockin’ stuff.
01 – Fucked Up Kid
02 – In It For The Money
03 – By Blood By Heart
04 – Soft Situations
05 – Living Dreams
06 – One Week
07 – Bad Like A Gun
08 – The Way We Are
09 – Deadlock
10 – Nothing Is Thicker
Max Landegren – Vocals, Guitars
Stefan Westlund – Bass
Ludwig Tornemalm – Drums
Pre-Order :
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8751220
