THE CRUEL INTENTIONS – No Sign Of Relief (2018)

THE CRUEL INTENTIONS consisting of bassist Mats Wernerson, singer Lizzy DeVine, drummer Robin Nilsson and guitarist Kristian Nygaard Solhaug will be releasing their debut album “No Sign Of Relief“ via Norway’s Indie Recordings on September 21, 2018.
We have featured one of the advanced singles in one of our ‘Advanced Sampler’ compilations, but now after having

Life throws us curveballs sometimes. The first time I heard The Cruel Intentions was well over a year ago, and I just did not get them at all. The song apparently hit me at the wrong time as I could not get into Lizzy DeVine’s vocals, and wondered why there was so much hype surrounding the band.

Then we listened to another single, and decided to include it into one of our ‘Advanced Sampler’ compilations – these are carefully made compilations, we select only the best songs of the month, about 80% are discarded.
But now… listening to “No Sign Of Relief” in its entirety I am shocked.

‘Jawbreaker’ doesn’t just open the album; it grabs you by the neck and demands your attention while your hands fumble to turn the volume up higher. This rapid fire sleazy hard rocker provides the perfect opening as the opening riff segue ways into a three-minute burst of adrenaline with a contagious chorus that demands you start singing along with Lizzy DeVine. ‘All I want to do is rock ‘n’ roll til I die’ provides the mission statement for the album at the end of the song.

There is no let up in energy or quality as ‘The Reckoning’ explodes out of the speakers like a freight train covered in hooks that will not let go. Kristian Solhaug’s guitar work on the record is phenomenal from the riffs to the solos.
‘Weekend Suffering’ continues the mastery with Mats Wernerson (bass) and Robin Nilsson (drums) creating some dynamics to help push the huge hook here. Solhaug lays down an awesome solo. If you are not shouting the title in the chorus by the end of the song, it would be advised to make sure you have a pulse.
‘Borderline Crazy’ will be familiar to older fans of the band as the band channels early Motley Crue, Skid Row, and the like but with some modern touches.

Next up is ‘Check Your Head’ with this one really highlighting how awesome DeVine’s vocals fit this band and approach. They drip with sincerity, attitude, aggression, and at times sound like your best friend telling you everything is going to work out okay.
One of my favorite songs ‘Sick Adrenaline’ combines a catchy verse with another chorus that will have you singing it in no time. It’s such a great feeling to have an album where you keep wanting to hit repeat on every track; the best solution has been to just keep this whole album on repeat. This is song after song that should be a hit single.

‘Everybody Riot’ proves to be no exception as this is another hard rocker crafted for audience participation. ‘Go F@ck Yourself’ leaves little mystery in its lyrical content. This one bounces out of the gate with Wernerson and Nilsson again laying claim to some awesome rhythm work as the song switches to a faster gear. There is such an uplifting spirit to the chorus that you cannot help but smile.
As we sadly near the end of the album, ‘Chaos in a Bombshell’ let’s us know we are not finished yet. The huge backing vocals carry every ounce of attitude you could hope to hear.

Too often today, we hear about albums being front loaded with a few good songs at the start and then a bunch of filler at the back of the record. That does not exist in the world of The Cruel Intentions. There is no let up in these 11 songs.
Even with several listens, it is impossible to sit still when playing this album. Finale ‘Devilicious’ switches from fifth gear to fourth gear with the sleaze factor to the tenth power as the album reaches its powerful conclusion.

The mix on this album is faultless as each musician gets heard with subtle pushes when needed such as the way the guitar solos rip through the speakers.
I am a firm believer that if you put The Cruel Intentions on tour with someone like Guns ‘N Roses today they would sell at least a million records.

Album of the year contender? Yes, it is. In a year that has seen several albums fighting strongly for my favorite album of the year, The Cruel Intentions have battered down the door to fight for that top spot with a few other albums.
I actually cannot remember a year when 2/3 of the way through the year I had so many albums that could easily be my favorite.

Cultural musical revolutions (‘Pyromania’, ‘Nevermind’, ‘Rest In Sleaze’ for example) get started with albums like this when we suddenly see the change in what society as a whole wants to hear.
The Cruel Intentions is a killer band, and “No Sign Of Relief” made a similar impact on me like Crashdiet’s ‘Rest In Sleaze’ when appeared: nobody gave a dime for them, and I predicted they would be huge.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Jawbreaker
02 – Reckoning
03 – Genie’s Got a Problem
04 – Weekend Suffering
05 – Borderline Crazy
06 – Check Your Head
07 – Sick Adrenaline
08 – Everybody Riot
09 – Go F@ck Yourselves
10 – Chaos in a Bombshell
11 – Devilicious

Lizzy DeVine (lead vocals, guitar)
Mats Wernerson (bass)
Eiliv Sagrusten (drums)
Kristian Nygaard Solhaug (lead guitar)

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www.amazon.de/No-Sign-Relief-Cruel-Intention/dp/B07F7TYRV5
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