Swiss hard rock gods deliver classic hard rock
For all the trials, tribulations and downright tragedy that comes along with being in in rock n roll band for a quarter of a century, you’d perhaps forgive Gotthard if they’d chosen to rest on their laurels. They could have just stuck out a best of to celebrate their silver anniversary. Possibly they’d tag a couple of new songs on the end or something, but they’d just be an excuse to tour.
Fair enough, but these boys are made of sterner stuff. That’s why they carried on after the awful loss of singer Steve Lee in 2010 and that’s why this is a brand-new record of what is in 2017 a pretty mammoth 13 songs. It’s also why “Silver” is so very, very good.
That this, their third album with new singer Nic Maeder, is a little special is immediately obvious given the stomping Deep Purple-isms of the opening song “Silver River”, and if the follow up “Electrified” is perhaps a little more Led Zep in its intentions, then it still packs quite the punch and possesses a superb hook.
Experienced enough to know themselves at this point, this is a classy effort whichever way you look at it. Gotthard have toured with Bon Jovi, AC/DC and Bryan Adams to name a few, and there is definite nods to all of those here, as there is to Whitesnake, particularly on “Stay With Me”. Not least of which because Maeder has the feel of Dame David about him. The song itself is elevated from usual ballad fodder by a brilliant, soaring solo before its conclusion.
That opening triumvirate could rather sum up the record as a whole. But while there’s thumpers like the groovy crunch of “Everything Inside”, there’s huge power ballads like “Why” and there’s mid-paced Jovi type stuff such as “Beautiful”, elsewhere there is enough difference to keep things fresh.
“Reason For This” chugs away like latter day Europe, and there’s a gentle, nearly country strum on “Not Fooling Anyone”, there’s a subtle urgency on “Miss Me” as well as a opening riff that to these ears has an echo of a slowed down “Beat It” and “Tequila Symphony Number Five” is nothing if not impressively grandiose.
There is nothing about “Silver” that does not have the word “quality” written right through. “Only Love Is Real” has a simple message, but does arena rock better than anything Alter Bridge manage, and the quite brilliant “My Oh My” suckers you in with a melodic opening, but is a real white knuckle cruncher of a thing, which is followed right into the fast lane by the dirty, bluesy licks of “Blame On Me”, which is more than just a wonderful way to end “Silver”.
Instead, it seems to say, yeah, that was the first 25 years, but we ain’t done yet, not by a long shot.
So is the “Gold” album in 2042 a possibility, boys…?
Rating 8/10
