21OCTAYNE – 2.0 (2015)

Germans 21OCTAYNE already leave a really good impression with their last year’s debut (presented here) and now the guys return with the second effort simply entitled “2.0”
Formed by Axxis guitarist Marco Wriedt, Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody drummer Alex Landenburg, Joe Perry Project vocalist Hagen Grohe, and Paul Gilbert Band bassist Andrew Lauer, you can see these guys can play, but also compose some refreshing modern / melodic hard rock tunes.

Driven mostly by Wriedt’s significant and creative guitar work and Hagen Grohe’s equally strong vocals, it’s a nearly perfect storm as the band weaves groove, harmony, and melody with, sometimes metalish, modern rock heaviness.
Opener ‘Devil In Disguise’ is an up-tempo rocker that, to my ears, blends a little Van Halen with Alter Bridge into the mix, and it works really fine. Next up we have ‘Take Me Back’ with a nice verses and bridge but loses something on the chorus.

‘When You Go’ is the radio friendly power ballad that has a lot of class, then ‘Love’s Just A Heartbeat Away’ throws a little bluesy hard rock into the blender. Grohe sings wonderfully here, and throughout the whole release.

‘The Circle’ has some real heavy funky bass runs and a big sing-along chorus, there’s some odd lyrics for the catchy ‘Date With Myself (German sense of humour maybe…), and ‘Fly With Me’ turn thing pretty heavy with a modern vibe.
Then 21Octayne get more than a little ambitious with closer ‘Tale Of A Broken Child’. The song has it all: prog-like 10 minute running time (which feels like 4), Led Zeppelin acoustic moments, superb riffs from Marco Wriedt (check out 1:30…), time changes, bass solo, guitar solo, classical snippets, birds singing, whistling outro… overall it’s just a classic piece of storytelling wrapped up to perfection.

Basically, on second effort “2.0”, 21Octayne remains consistent and creative with their catchy and accessible, sometimes heavy, modern (and melodic) hard rock.
This band is like breath of fresh air into the scene, and deserves to be listened widely.
Strongly Recommended

01 – Devil In Disguise
02 – Take Me Back
03 – When You Go
04 – Love s Just A Heartbreak Away
05 – Take Me Away
06 – Lost
07 – The Circle
08 – Date With Myself
09 – Fly With Me
10 – Tale Of A Broken Child

Hagen Grohe – vocals
Marco Wriedt – guitars
Andrew Lauer – bass
Alex Landenburg – drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/2-0-21octayne/dp/B011JKLT72
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