GRAND THEFT CULTURE – Grand Theft Culture LP (2017)
On this blog it was already featured the debut EP from GRAND THEFT CULTURE, and now the Swedish rocking band are presenting their full length “Grand Theft Culture LP“.
If you are new to them, Grand Theft Culture includes into the line-up a DJ called Erik Johansson which could led to believe that the band is a nu-metal act 15 years too late. Well, they’re not.
No, this is modern Melodic Hard Rock with an attitude and huge musical skills. So don’t let the DJ thing deter you from giving this album a go.
Grand Theft Culture is fronted by singer and guitar-wonder-child Michel Santunione, known for his work in Scandinavian versions of musicals such as Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Rock of Ages’ and for touring the world with some of the biggest rock acts from Sweden as stage musician.
You know, the guy’s uncle is actually Electric Boys’ guitarist Franco Santunione, hence the connection with the Swedish rock musical scene.
The rhythm section consists of Markus Hjalsten, a powerhouse drummer who is well known for his use of a Cymbal-Helmet© and his bombastic playing, and Johannes Sandberg on bass, who brings a heavy groove to the sound through his energetic style and remarkable use of distorted slapping.
The DJ, Erik Johansson, is the fourth member of the group, playing all the electronic samples with a Launchpad through an amplifier to capture the organic sound of a ‘live band’.
After the intro, first proper song ‘Burn’ perfectly encompasses the spirit of Grand Theft Culture and their exceptional mix of electronics, organic hard rock guitar riffs, funked’up bass lines and massive, infectious choruses.
Then ‘Spinning’ is pure poppy melodic rock with some of the last Reckless Love on it, then they morph again with the more glammy ‘Get Away’, some kind of Hanoi Rocks in time travel to 2017 including DJ sctrachs. Weird, but truly original and innovative.
‘Set Me Free’ rocks with stinging guitars not far from the aforementioned Electric Boys. It has a poppy melody and a chorus so contagious, no doctor in the world can find a cure strong enough. It’s melodic hard rock that makes out with a more modern kind of rock, but the song is just bloody fantastic and it has ‘hit’ written all over it.
Grand Theft Culture explore more organic sounds with ‘Time’ adding acoustics into the mix, while ‘Just Begun’ includes a middle section with a midtempo bluesy feel spiced with electronics. Again, weird at first listen, yet creative for sure.
Grand Theft Culture manages to combine a driving rock punch with poppy melodies and electronics that together produce some truly entertaining, compelling and innovative rockin’ music.
Open your years and give this record a proper listen. Grand Theft Culture are fresh, original, and with a sense of fun not easy to find in today’s music.
Strongly Recommended
01 – Prologue
02 – Burn
03 – Down the Line 2.0
04 – Spinning
05 – Get Away
06 – No More
07 – Set Me Free
08 – Time
09 – A.Y.H!?
10 – The Garden
11 – Just Begun
Michel Santunione – Vocals, Guitar
Markus Hjalsten – Drums, Cymbal-Helmet
Johannes Sandberg – Bass, Backing Vocals
Erik Johansson – Launchpad, Synths, Samples
BUY IT !
www.bengans.se/sv/artiklar/grand-theft-culture-grand-theft-culture.html
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