NIGHT LASER – Call Me What You Want (2024)
As a surprise to literally nobody familiar with them, it’s all change once again for German hard rock act NIGHT LASER. Four full-length studio releases with four different line-ups, the only two constants within the band are founding members singer Benno Hankers and his brother, bassist Robert. Also, having presented as both a trio and a quartet since their inception in 2014, the band has grown with another member for this current iteration, switching up to become a five-piece for the upcoming new album, ”Call Me What You Want”
A good-time band, the Hamburg-based band initially glammy / sleazy with ’80s inspiration have gone down a more serious route for this new CD, losing some of their hard drinking, fast cars and faster women charm but becoming more versatile and mature in the process, incorporating welcomed melodic hard rock and classic hard rock elements to their music.
Kicking off with a fully fledged drum intro from new sticksman Ingemar Oswald, “Bittersweet Dreams” hits the ground running before being joined by a rolling bassline, a fast-paced riff and classic “hey!” gang vocals. Settling into a steady pace, the song boasts the first of many memorable choruses, Benno drawing all the attention to himself during the verses, ably supported by the new twin axe attack of Felipe Zapata Martinez and Vincent Hadeler.
The uptempo “Way To The Thrill” recalls classic Eighties stadium anthems, the addictive track boasting even more high quality shredding – the solo is just awesome. “No More Changes” is a good old-fashioned Hard Rock stomp, while “Don’t Call Me Hero” is all moody riffs and layered chorus.
Well-produced and confidently performed, ”Call Me What You Want” might find the band casting off some of the more lightweight aspects of their sound, but the high-volume energy is still there in abundance. Melodic, anthemic, and catchy album.
Highly Recommended
01 – Bittersweet Dreams
02 – Way To The Thrill
03 – No More Changes
04 – Don’t Call Me Hero
05 – Law Of The Vulture
06 – Laser Train
07 – Travelers In Time
08 – Captain Punishment
09 – The Fiddler On The Roof
Benno Hankers (vocals)
Robert Hankers (bass)
Felipe Zapata Martinez (guitar)
Vincent Hadeler (guitar)
Ingemar Oswald (drums)
Pre order:
shop.season-of-mist.com/night-laser-call-me-what-you-want-lp
