Once again we go to Sweden for another Frontiers Records release, this time it's the sophomore effort from Adrenaline Rush, titled Soul Survivor. Led by the sultry vocals of Tave Wanning, the band is rounded out by guitarists Sam Soderlindh & Alexander Hagman, bassist Joel Fox, and drummer Marcus Johansson. With writing collaborations from Fredrik Folkare (of Firespawn and Unleashed) and production handled by Erik Mårtensson (of Eclipse), Soul Survivor is an edgier and heavier album than its predecessor, with a clear nod to '80s hard rock & metal but also a dark modern edge. Wanning has a strong voice, at times not unlike Doro Pesch or Liv Kristine, and she soars high above crisp rockers "Stand My Ground", "Adrenaline", "Breaking the Chains", and the memorable title track. The guitar work is pretty exceptional throughout, bright and crunchy, with huge riffs permeating "My Life", and the grinding, groove laden "Break the Silence". "Shock Me" also cranks with plenty of sizzling metallic crunch as well as some raunchy slide guitar, while the catchy "Don't Wake Me Up" sees the wah-wah make an appearance for a sleazy '80s styled romp.
Soul Survivor is a fun album, and a hell of a lot heavier than I thought it was going to be, complete with strong vocals, catchy hooks, and plenty of guitar pyrotechnics. Nicely done!
Track Listing
01.Adrenalin
02.Love is Like Poison
03.Breaking the Chains
04.Soul Survivor
05.Stand My Ground
06.My Life
07.Break the Silence
08.Sinner 2
09.Shock Me
10.Wild Side
11.Dont Wake Me Up
12. Crash
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
