BUCKCHERRY: Warpaint (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

"Confessions" was a kind of return to the roots for Buckcherry. This album was a plunge into the fundamentals of US hardcore, a little plump, varied and exhilarating. This "Warpaint", with its new guitarist, is in the same vein.

Starting with a rather calm rhythm of classic and rough rock with "Warpaint", the album has a very few dead time. The tracks are well calibrated and will make you kick and shake your head. Beyond the classicism of "Closer" and other tracks, we sometimes find an ounce of modernity with "Right Now" and its claims that borrow from metal fusion. There is also the required ballad with the very pretty southern-rock "Radio Song", quite attractive, far from "The Hunger" really too cuddly. Fortunately, 'Head Like A Hole', a cover of Nine Inch Nails, makes snore Kelly LeMieux's groovy and seeping bass.

If the whole is quite heavy thanks to a deep and very present bass, a few flashes of lightning allow to aerate the music, like the clear guitar of 'The Vaccum' which, moreover, benefits from a terribly endearing melody. This little gem of rock at once heavy and delicate, groovy and luminous, is likely to convince the greatest number of people. Todd and his band try to vary the pleasures by committing themselves to blues rock or even folk atmospheres without going too far, however.

While most of the songs come out on a rather slow pace, Buckcherry manages to accelerate on 'No Regrets'. The little folky solo is lovely and saves a little bit of this track that could have its little success in concert. Without strictly speaking weak titles, it can be pointed out that some songs, such as 'Bent' or 'The Alarm' do not have the little twinkle that could make the difference.

Josh Todd's singing is always quite linear, which suits the mood of the album quite well. But let's imagine a more powerful or varied voice and we could reach heights that seem still a little inaccessible to Buckcherry, who has however qualities to offer. - Official website

BUCKCHERRY

WARPAINT

CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS

HARD ROCK