DEAF RAT – Ban The Light (2019)
Coming from different angles of the Swedish Hard Rock scene, DEAF RAT are presenting their debut CD “Ban The Light” tomorrow. Their music is hard n’ heavy, groovy with a classic melodic hard rock foundation driven by sharp guitars, yet served with a modern punchy production style.
Yeah, Sweden keeps producing them like no other country it seems. Deaf Rat are here and are here to stay. Their musical statement on ‘Ban The Light’ makes it pretty clear that these guys mean serious business.
Led by singer Frankie Rich who has a Dutch background (real name Frank Kooistra, his parents emigrated to Sweden some 40 years ago where he was born) Deaf Rat makes a quite impressive start of their career, blasting a combination of power hard n’ heavy melodic rock music out of the speakers with a grim and sometimes dark look on the world today lyric wise.
Blessed with a healthy ‘do it yourself attitude’ the musicians work their way through some gritty songs on which they sound determined, inspired and with an attitude that is from time to time cheeky but also with a certain meaning.
It’s not that Deaf Rat only plays straight forward all the time, there are some moments where the foot is of the pedal and there is room for a bit more thought and melody in the song structure, just check the ballad “Bad Blood”, adorned with acoustics, strings and elaborated harmony vocals.
The most outstanding songs are next to it in quality, for sure the epic title track, and closer “Welcome To Hell’’ that is dominated by a darkish and mysterious sound and lyric. Also the piano part and Frankie’s vocal are sinister. Definitely a song that might not grab you straight away but the more you hear it, the more it gets you in its grip.
Not saying that Deaf Rat has re-invented the musical wheel again, but with their character and a firm production (courtesy of Erik Berglund) Deaf Rat at least has made an impact in a hard / metal scene that is full of wannabees and groups that have nothing of their own to bring to the table.
Deaf Rat is a pleasant exception.
Highly Recommended
01 – Fallen Angels
02 – Hail the End of Days
03 – Tying You Down
04 – Save Me from Myself
05 – Ban the Light
06 – Bad Blood
07 – Make You Suffer
08 – Say You Love Me
09 – Wanted Forever
10 – Welcome to Hell
Frankie Rich – Lead Vocals
Pat Kramer – Guitars & vocals
Max Lander – Guitars & vocals
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www.amazon.co.uk/Ban-Light-Deaf-Rat/dp/B07WGJJHWR
