SHOTGUN REVOLUTION – Shotgun Revolution (2013)
*
I don’t know if the Danes wanted to keep it for themselves or due the ineptitude by their management / label, but it’s a crime that SHOTGUN REVOLUTION hasn’t been exposed to the major public before.
This rockin’ quintet from Copenhagen, Denmark, already have two albums and an EP only available in their country, but now, luckily, Target records finally decided to release the band’s first international album in all of Europe.
Self titled as the band, “Shotgun Revolution” consists of songs from their 2 albums ‘Join The Revolution’ (2010) and 2012’s ‘The Legacy Of Childhood Dreams’.
Shotgun Revolution rocks with a melodic hard rock style reminiscent of ’80s American acts yet with a typical European scent. With the help from famous Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen (Pretty Maids, Metallica) the band delivers a fierce, powerful and addictive bunch of tunes packed with huge anthem-like choruses and colossal guitars. All is extremely polished, but with a punchy delivery.
The opening rebel yell of “Hustled ‘n’ Played”, with its only 2;22 min, screaming guitars and explicit lyrics, kicks your ass making clear who are Shotgun Revolution. It’s one of hardest songs on the album but somehow they sound more ‘compact’ than ‘gritty’.
As said, all the material on this CD is really polished, accentuated by Ditlev Ulriksen’s clean vocals who is a cross between Tobias Sammet and Steve Lee (Gotthard).
Bouncing hard rockers such as the swagger “I Don’t Care”, the anthemic “Not Your Enemy” or the DAD influenced “Too Much Reality” are interspersed between the Melodic Hard Rock tracks which are the motto on this CD.
Among the highlights we have the radio friendly “Constantly” and its winning chorus, the jumpin’ “Bleeding”, the arena-ready “What You’re Doing To Me” (love the riff!), and the cheery “Driving Without Brakes” with shades of Bon Jovi.
Talking about Jon, Sambora & Co. just listen the terrific midtempo “Just Getting High”, and in this same pace there’s another favorite of mine; “The Legacy Of Childhood Dreams” recalling Fair Warning and their melodic sound from ‘4’.
The balance on the album is provided by two emotional, excellent ballads; the clean and bluesy “Hopefully” where Gotthard meets Pretty Maids, and later “Flipside” delivers a beautiful set of acoustic/electric guitars and sweet background keyboards in a GNR / Aerosmith heavenly climate though the vocal approach reminds me Bad Habit, reaffirming that Shotgun Revolution’s influences comes as much from America as from Scandinavia.
If polished yet compact melodic hard rock is your thing, don’t miss Shotgun Revolution’s international debut.
This is a truly impressive collection of well written songs performed with extreme attention to detail and packed with catchy choruses & soaring melodies galore. Production is first class; crisp, clear, sometimes bombastic. Not only Flemming Rasmussen is involved here; legend George Marino mastered the whole thing at Sterling Sound NYC.
Shotgun Revolution is ready for big things; they will be touring all Europe and USA this summer, and judging the quality material here, the sky is their limit.
Highly Recommended.
Ditlev Ulriksen – Vocals
Martin Frank – Guitars
Henrik Berger – Guitars
Michael V. Carlsen – Bass
Kasper Lund – Drums
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