VOLSTER – Perfect Storm (2018)

Swedish Melodic Hard rockers VOLSTER (feat. ex-members of Masquerade and House Of Heavy) will release their debut album “Perfect Storm” on April 20th via Rock Of Angels Records. The album is co-produced and mixed by legendary Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Lynch Mob, Y&T) and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Dynazty) at The Panic Room Mastering.

Volster first reared their heads back in 1996 recording a 4 track demo, and then lay dormant until 2013 when they decided to resurrect the band, keeping the same name and writing new material.
Guitarist Ulf Andersson and bass player Henrik Lundberg both previously were part of Masquerade, a great MHR act which released a terrific album featured HERE.
Ulf left to pursue other projects including House Of Heavy, while Henrik remained, the band releasing four albums in total.

Moving forward to 2018 and Volster are about to release their full length debut album “Perfect Storm”. With the addition of Peter Tenning on vocals and Daniel Granlund (ex-Syconaut) on drums, the album consists of twelve tracks which are firmly planted in the melodic hard rock genre, in its harder side and with an updated Y2K sound.
To give you an idea, the overall style brings to mind early Lynch Mob mixed with traditional Scandinavian melodies akin Treat. They certainly sound like they wouldn’t of been out of place back in the late ’80s / early ’90s.

“Perfect Storm” is indeed melodious yet potent, you’ll notice the strong guitar presence with sharp riffage, fine harmony, and soaring leads. If you love ripping guitar solos, you’ll dig Volster.
Peter Tenning is fine vocalist with a strong presence, singing clean, melodic and with control. The timbre of his voice easily blends and binds with the melody and harmony of the guitar lines.
All songs are solid, being in the harder side ‘King Of The Hill’, ‘Ends With Me’, ‘Hero, or title track ‘Perfect Storm’ wich adds lots of harmonies anyway.

For some interesting variation tune into the electric guitar and voice ‘Still In Love’ adds a bluesy touch, something like the aforementioned Lynch Mob but also Badlands.
‘Babylon’ has a deep bass & drum start that moves into a smooth steady groove, slightly dark. About the midpoint, there’s a breakdown of Middle Eastern guitar which leads to smooth solo.

On the more melodic hard rock side, ‘Breathless’ is a winner. There’s pulsating verses, a killer chorus in the Treat vein, and clever keyboards.
Despite its title (makes you think of a heavy song) ‘Games of War’ is also quite melodic, while ‘Easier Said Than Done’ is a semi-ballad melodic rocker with a ’90s feeling.

Very modern from arrangements to production, Volster’s debut “Perfect Storm” also take Eighties / Nineties influences, especially in the songwriting.
It’s a very guitar-driven record, as mentioned earlier, across the album there’s a truckload of killer guitar riffs / solos. You can hear Max Norman’s ‘touch’ particularly in the ‘clean punch’, but “Perfect Storm” is not a rehash of his ’80s productions, it’s a vibrant modern sounding album that will appeal a wide audience.
Highly Recommended

01 – King of the Hill
02 – Heaven or Hell
03 – Perfect Storm
04 – Breathless
05 – Still in Love
06 – Babylon
07 – Hero
08 – Games of War
09 – Easier Said Than Done
10 – I Don’t Care
11 – Drifting Away
12 – Ends with Me

Peter Tenning – Vocals
Ulf Andersson – Guitar
Henrik Lundberg – Bass
Daniel Granlund – Drums

PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.de/Perfect-Storm-Volster/dp/B07B64T2ZZ
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