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"With the sceptre of melody in one hand and that of energy in the other, Treat reigns as an enlightened sovereign over the kingdom of finely chiseled hard rock, of which "The End Game" is the worthy representative."
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5/5
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But what did the Swedes of Treat eat during their break between 1993 and 2006? Since their return, they have been ruling the melodic hard rock scene with unstoppable and flawless albums. Three years after the monumental "Tunguska", the quintet is back with a new change of bass player, Nalle Pahlsson making his come back in place of Pontus Egberg. Always produced by Peter Mansson and Anders Wikstrom, "The End Game" presents a cover with an obvious double meaning and whose title evokes, according to its creators, the struggle of the band to survive.
The recipe has been working beyond all expectations for fourteen years, it would be a shame to change it. With unstoppable riffs, hyper catchy choruses, gleaming solos, a rhythm section that perfectly combines power and roundness, perfectly mastered vocals and keyboards that wrap everything up with harmony, all the ingredients are present for a new colossal opus of Treat.
A melodic bomb with fragmentation takes the listener by surprise ('Freudian Slip'), followed by a new missile ('Rabbit Hole'), then by a torpedo ('Sinbiosis'). For those who would raise their head, it's a direct assault that awaits them, finishing to take their breath away with its galloping rhythmic, its anthemic chorus and its more AOR melody ('Home Of The Brave').
Of course, it would be tempting to detail each track in order not to forget the smallest pearl composing this new monument dedicated to the cult of the melody as well powerful as bewitching, but it would be to make boring an album which is on the contrary fascinating and continues to deliver its treasures after each listening. Playing on the contrasts between light and shadow, integrating some surprising elements, like these very touches a la Beatles on the ballad 'My Parade', or becoming sometimes almost cinematic ('Both Ends Burning', 'Jesus From Hollywood'), this opus doesn't hesitate to change abruptly of direction without ever losing coherence. It is also amazing to see how carefully the ingredients are used for each track without ever showing a feeling of repetition.
So it is not yet this time that Treat will waver on its throne. With the sceptre of melody in one hand and that of energy in the other, he reigns as an enlightened sovereign over the kingdom of a finely chiseled hard rock whose every track systematically hits the bull's eye. We can only hope that, despite its title, "The End Game" is not the last masterpiece of the Swedes. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
 01. Freudian Slip - 4:03
02. Rabbit Hole - 4:04
03. Sinbiosis - 4:40
04. Home Of The Brave - 4:10
05. Both Ends Burning - 5:59
06. My Parade - 4:28
07. Wake Me When It’s Over - 4:17
08. Jesus From Hollywood - 4:44
09. Magic - 4:10
10. Carolina Reaper - 3:50
11. Dark To Light - 4:31
12. To The End Of Love - 6:17
LINEUP:
Anders Wikstrom: Guitares
Jamie Borger: Batterie
Nalle Påhlsson: Basse
Patrick Applegren: Guitares / Claviers
Robert Ernlund: Chant
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(2) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.3/5 (3 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.3/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH TREAT
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT TREAT
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