GOTTHARD – Bang! (2014)

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Released today, “Bang!” is the second album from hard rockers GOTTHARD with vocalist Nic Maeder after the death of original singer Steve Lee in a motorcycle accident. The question was, how the new album from the Swiss band will sound? Will it be a continuation of the previous record or will it sound very different?
How big will be the influence of Nic when it comes to the new songs? And last but not least Gotthard decided to collaborate with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (Helloween, Saxon) who is more known for metal sounds than for hard rock.

“Bang!” proves that Gotthard made everything right. The new record it is maybe a bit less ‘easy’ than the last, but it rocks much more. And Gotthard tried out new things here.
With the title track (which opens the album after a short intro), the five guys play for the first time a fast boogie based song, mixing some sludgy guitar with punchy vocals – one to get the head nodding for sure. It sounds really cool and is a great chosen opener.
Later, “I Won’t Look Down” is truly classic rock influenced and reminds party to Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, then “Maybe” is a gospel tinged country ballad where Nic sings together with the very talented Melody Tibbets in a nice duet. All these ‘new musical approach’ progressively enrich the recording adding variation.

And there is for the first time in Gotthard’s history a song which extends the 10 minutes border. It’s the last track “Thank You”, dedicated to guitarist’s Leo Leoni recently departed mother. An epic composition with BIG production including orchestral arrangements, vocal duets, melody, overblown moments – kitchen sink – it’s a suitably big and moving number, akin GNR November Rain buT in the Gotthard style.
Interesting to know, that original idea wasn’t to write such a long song. In the beginning it was a typical Gotthard ballad, but parts and pieces have been added and the puzzle was set together. In the end it became a highlight in the band’s discography.

If you are asking for classic melodic / hard Gotthard, don’t worry, there’s a plenty too.
“What You Get” is a Melodic Hard Rock gem with driven guitars, keyboards all over and urgent verses that explodes into a blasting chorus. A highlight and one of the best Gotthard songs ever.
“Feel What I Feel” is a modern rocker with AOR smell, “C’est La Vie” a sweet slow burning ballad, while we have the trademark Gotthard groovy Whitesnake-sounding cuts in “Spread Your Wings”, “My Belief” and “Red On A Sleeve”.
Then, just when you think they’ve run out of new ideas, lapsing into one of those extruded-by-the-yard introductory riffs, “Ticket Man” erupts in style reminding me Overland (the band). Great one.

I was not expecting much from Gotthard, but the guys have surprised me with one of the best albums of their career – the more diverse for sure. I am not really convinced with the album artwork and title, because does not reflects the excellent piece of Rock music that packs inside.
In its 62 minutes, “Bang!” offers a bunch of greatly composed and arranged songs recorded with energy and invention, a pulsating yet melodic delivery and as said, variation. You never get bored with this disc, in fact, it’s among the more entertaining heard in a very long time.
“Bang!” is a milestone in Gotthard’s successful history. It’s that good.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

01. Let Me In Katie
02. Bang!
03. Get Up ‘N’ Move On
04. Feel What I Feel
05. C’est La Vie
06. Jump The Gun
07. Spread Your Wings
08. I Won’t Look Down
09. My Belief
10. Maybe (Duett)
11. Red On A Sleeve
13. Mr Ticket Man
14. Thank You

Vocals – Nic Maeder
Guitar – Leo Leoni , Freddy Scherer
Bass – Marc Lynn
Drums – Hena Haberger

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shop.napalmrecords.com/bang-digipack.html
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