DISMISSED – Heads Held High (2017)
Swedes DISMISSED have been playing since 2011 apparently doing several live performances where they whip each other, smash instruments and set the stage on fire, just to make a point. “Heads Held High” is their debut album released today and after reading it is produced by Martin Sanvik (Hardcore Superstar) I thought this was just another Swedish melodic hard / sleaze band.
Wrong.
I never heard about Dismissed until now and seems the same happened to the major public. The band has been playing the underground circuit for a while, but it was in the Swedish take-outs for the recent 2017 Eurovision Songcontest in Malmö where Dismissed presented themselves to the world.
Although their song ‘Hearts Align’ didn’t make it to the final, Dismissed’s live performance created some impact for sure.
All musicians in Dismissed dress like women, use rare make-up, and they did a Fashion Model parade. Just take a look at their performance in Eurovision past month;
Well, seems Dismissed want to shock somehow, and are politically incorrect. But what matters to me, is the music.
And no, Dismissed is not another Swedish hard rock band, but a strange and very intriguing amalgam of ’80s New Wave, ’90s Power pop and timeless rock wrapped by modern production.
While the song in the video is pretty modern / alt, there’s much more interesting material into the album.
‘Leave It Under Water’ is a haunting song with an oppressive atmosphere, and dark synths that reminds me ’80s movie soundtracks. At the end it speeds up with more raw vocals and guitars.
‘Escape’ has a Depeche Mode current feel all over yet with a rock pulse, the melodic and clean ‘Stay’ a British feel akin Duran Duran ’90s ‘adult era’ (excellent vocal work here), then ‘Dance on the Borderline’ is more adventurous than anything released by U2 in the last twenty years.
There’s a glammy feel in ‘Glitch’ with some rocking instrumentation, then ‘March With Heads Held High’, while modern, has a stadium anthem heart.
That’s some orientation about Dismissed overall sound, but they have a very own, unique style.
I really like the way they approach to songwriting not following the traditional pattern. Yeah, these are rock&pop songs, but created in their own way and where you expect the following verse they add an atmospheric synth break.
Open your ears (and mind) and try “Heads Held High”. It’s all good, different stuff.
01 – Leave It Under Water
02 – Escape
03 – Hearts Align
04 – Stay
05 – Dance on the Borderline
06 – Glitch
07 – Save the World
08 – Lucifer
09 – March With Heads Held High
Tor Höglund (vocals)
Johan Carlsson (drums)
Freddie Van Eijsden (guitar)
Douglas Woodbridge (bass)
BUY IT !
itunes.apple.com/de/album/heads-held-high/id1214789480
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