REBELSTAR – The Black Widow Anthems (2023)

One of the best kept secrets from the European melodic hard rock scene, with two great albums under their belt is a mystery why REBELSTAR isn’t best known or played at major festivals. Lineup changes, bad luck, wrong managers, etc – however funding members lead vocalist Serge Naberman & guitarist Martijn Niggebrugge continues with the band having reissued the debut CD early 2023 and now is presenting their third, brand new effor titled “The Black Widow Anthems“.
Now solidified with lead guitarist Conrad Hultermans (ex X-Tinxion, 5150) and drummer Ciro Palma (ex Within Temptation), Rebelstar has found new impetus – what hasn’t changed is their knack for crafting awesome melodic hard rock tunes.
Opener ‘One More Time’ immediately sets the tone; infectious hooks. Next, ‘All Messed Up’ is killer, pumping multi-layered anthem featuring the great Bruce Kulick dropping a fantastic guest guitar solo.
If never heard REBELSTAR you better update your collection… this band is terrific.

‘Somebody Save Our Souls’ delivers more driven melodic guitars, heavier, while ‘In Murder They Trust’ showcases another side of Rebelstar never heard on the previous two albums; this is a dark, groovy hard rock number. ‘Hold On To The Night’ is also a good example of 0dayrox that, just a little more pedal-to-the-metal. Rebelstar’s rousing melodic hard rock not only sounds full of fire, it is also polished, crystal clear.

The dynamic ‘Fast & Furious’ gets thing back to catchiness, a commercial anthem featuring another guest, a guitar solo by Casper van der Woord from Dutch band Downcast Collision. ‘Scared of the Devil’ sounds pretty early ’90s hard (the solo is huge), then ‘Under a 100.000 Stars’ brings o mind the current Scandinavian scene.
‘Full Circle’ has some funky yet rocking guitars and a certain American sound, before ‘Start Rocking’ close the record in fine form.

It’s great to hear REBELSTAR back again – their last album, “II”, dates back to 2013. This melodic hard rock Dutch band needs to be heard by all fans of the genre, they seriously rock hard with style, lots of harmonies and hooks.
On ”The Black Widow Anthems” REBELSTAR has turned more ‘heavy’, hard rocking I would say. I still prefer the purest melodic rock from their first efforts, but this 2023 version of the band sounds much more current, updated, and wider. Ans the hook galore is still there.
Highly Recommended

01 – One More Time
02 – All Messed Up
03 – Somebody Save Our Souls
04 – In Murder They Trust
05 – Fast & Furious
06 – Hold on to the Night
07 – Scared of the Devil
08 – Under a 100.000 Stars
09 – Full Circle
10 – Start Rocking

Lead Vocals, Guitar: Serge Naberman
Guitar, Backing Vocals: Martijn Niggebrugge
Guitar: Conrad Hultermans
Bass, Backing Vocals: Bart ‘Dus’ Pellinkhof
Drums: Ciro Palma

Bruce Kulick – guest guitar solo on 2
Casper van der Woord – guest guitar solo on 5

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www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BVDDVJPW