It’d be tempting to think that “1985” would be a mission statement, soaring as it does back to a different – simpler – time, but that neglects the fact that this stuff has never really been “in fashion”… not that Treat have ever cared.
After a decade of success, lineup shifts and the kind of industry turbulence that derailed plenty of their peers, Treat disappeared during the 1990s. Their 2006 reunion didn’t just restore the band, it reignited them, ushering in a sustained creative resurgence and a fiercely loyal fanbase across Europe, Japan and beyond. Now, with The Wild Card, their fifth studio album since that return, they sound utterly comfortable in their own skin.
The chemistry of the long-standing lineup – Robert Ernlund, Anders Wikström, Patrick Appelgren, Jamie Borger and Nalley Påhlsson – is unmistakable from the off. Opener “Out With A Bang” is absolute class, bursting out of the traps with just the right balance of muscle and melody… and that solo? My god. It’s a statement of intent, and a reminder of just how good this band still are.
“Rodeo” leans hard into Treat’s melodic instincts – this kind of song lives and dies by its chorus, and unsurprisingly they nail it. Then there’s “1985”, a rush of nostalgia that never tips into parody, before “Endeavour” ups the pomp with keys that shimmer and soar. “Hand On Heart” is a genuine masterclass, its widescreen drama even flirting with Dream Theater-like stylings while keeping the song firmly front and centre.
No melodic rock album worth its salt gets away without a tear-jerker, and “Heaven’s Waiting” fills that role perfectly. MV’s personal taste still leans toward the tougher edge, though, which makes the groove and bite of “Back To The Future” especially satisfying. There’s extra cinematic gravitas running through “Mad Honey”, while “Adam & Evil” dreams big, capturing youthful ambition in widescreen melodic rock colours.
Old-school AOR fans will feel instantly at home with “Your Majesty”, before “Night Brigade” arrives sounding exactly like a band doing what they were born to do. “In The Blink Of An Eye” subtly updates the sound while staying true to Treat’s core ethos, and the epic closer “One Minute To Breathe” – the longest piece here – almost feels like it’s tying up loose ends, bringing the record home with confidence and poise.
There was a Bon Jovi video back in the day where Jon Bon Jovi said something along the lines of, “I’ve never been in fashion, and now I’m so far out of fashion it doesn’t matter anyway.” There’s a bit of that spirit about Treat. But the truth is simple: “The Wild Card” is ace – and that’s no joker. One of the very best melodic rock records you’re likely to hear.
Rating: 9/10
