Outloud: Love Catastrophe

Considering their name it was apt that the self titled Outloud album arrived with a bang. Not only was the music prime-time, glitzy and hard hitting melodic rock, but the fact the band contained musicians more renowned for metal of a far harder variety also caught a lot of people off guard. With Firewind guitarist Bob Katsionis, ex-Talon singer Chandler Mogul, and ex Firewind sticksmith Mark Cross on board, the expectation was that Outloud would follow a similar power laden path. However, the brainchild of Tony Kash, who was one of Katsionis's guitar pupils, Outloud followed a road influenced more by the likes of TNT, Europe, or Brother Firetribe, with bristling, melodic riffs that jostle with layers of keyboards and Mogul's striking clear vocals. The band's line up on that sizzling debut effort was completed by bassist Jason Mercury who departed not long after the album was released, being replaced by ex Bare Infinity four-stringer Sverd T. Soth.

Right from the off, that Outloud debut was an unashamed nod to the past glories of melodic rock and with the sound of a stylus hitting vinyl introducing a jocular, gruff voice exclaiming "Alright you lassies, let's see some asses shaking!", there's no need to elaborate that Love Catastrophe follows in a similar, up and at 'em vein. Yes the lyrics may all be clichéd and well worn, with song titles like "We Came To Rock", "Waiting For Your Love" and "Love Catastrophe", but as a joyous escape this album hits all the right spots and leaves you grinning at the harmony vocals, finger flurrying solos and stomp along celebrations. Guitarist Katsionis, who also doubles up on keyboards, gels to stunning effect with his six string mate Kash, with that formidable team bolstered by the solid and varied drumming from Cross. The end results are songs that are bright and sparking with hooks while still housing some hefty slabs of guitars, ensuring that this is no quick-fix throwaway.

Highlights come in the shape of the aforementioned "Love Catastrophe", although "Live Again" and "Underground" also hit home, with the latter adding a confident swagger to proceedings. No release in this genre would be complete without a power ballad and Love Catastrophe delivers in style in the shape of "Someday", although the rather unwelcome use of an infuriatingly irritating "auto-tune" on the vocals of "Isolation Game" takes an otherwise decent song and lobs it into the pile marked "skip".

Proving that their self titled debut was no flash in the pan, Love Catastrophe reinforces and possibly betters their debut release which announced Outloud as one of the bands right at the forefront of the current melodic rock resurgence. On this form it looks like they are there to stay.

Track Listing
1. We Came To Rock
2. Falling Rain
3. Live Again
4. Waiting For Your Love
5. The Night That Never Ends
6. Someday
7. Underground
8. Isolation Game
9. Clean Hands
10. Love Catastrophe

Added: July 27th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Outloud Official Web Site
Hits: 2486
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]