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""Open" opens up a new path for Gotthard, with content that is more Soft than Hard Rock."
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4/5
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After 3 clearly hard-rock-oriented albums, Gotthard has just achieved commercial success with its live acoustic album "D-Frosted". Now a quintet following the arrival of Mandy Meyer as second guitarist, our Swiss band took a new musical direction that brought them both commercial recognition and controversy among their fans.
Indeed, with "Open", Gotthard clearly left behind the energetic hard rock that had characterized them until now, for a melodic soft rock flirting with AOR, reminiscent of certain specialists in the genre, notably Bon Jovi. Surprisingly, with the arrival of a second guitarist, the keyboards are given a much more prominent role. Although not considered a full-fledged member of the band, H.P. Brüggemann's work is essential to the sound of this album.
All this results in 13 tracks, certainly of high quality, but with nothing in common with the band's beginnings other than Steve Lee's characteristic voice. Of course, this voice is still impeccable, and the singer delivers another performance full of warmth and emotion, capable of being both energetic and beguiling. In this way, he establishes himself as a perfect rival to Jon Bon Jovi, even if his benchmark performer remains David Coverdale.
The rest of the band also deliver a flawless performance, perfectly in tune with the new style on offer. Tracks oscillate between soft-rock-FM ("Free And Alive", "Got To Be Love" or "Back To You"), steady-tempo rock ("Want You In"), mid-tempo FM ("Vision" or "You") and ballads, whether power ("Let It Rain") or acoustic ("Peace Of Mind"). Only "Cheat And Hide" and the Jimi Hendrix tribute "Hey Jimi", with its riff à la AC/DC's 'It's A Long Way To The Top', have more impact. Finally, The Move's cover of 'Blackberry Way', with its James Bond-style intro and reminiscences of the Beatles' famous 'Penny Lane', and 'Tell No Lies', with its folk-rock intro that veers towards hard FM, add a touch of originality.
If the objectives are obvious, and Gotthard have not hesitated to sacrifice their effective, melodic hard rock, we have to admit that they have lost none of their talent. Listening to this album is a pleasure, provided you've been warned of the new direction so as not to feel betrayed. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Free And Alive - 4:23
02. Vision - 3:57
03. Got To Be Love - 4:15
04. Let It Rain - 4:36
05. Blackberry Way - 3:40
06. You - 4:20
07. Cheat And Hide - 3:56
08. Want You In - 3:20
09. Tell No Lies - 3:45
10. Back To You - 4:00
11. Best Time - 4:17
12. Hey Jimi - 3:44
13. Peace Of Mind - 3:00
LINEUP:
H.P. Brüggemann: Claviers
Hena Habegger: Batterie
Leo Leoni: Guitares
Mandy Meyer: Guitares
Marc Lynn: Basse
Steve Lee: Chant
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (2 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (1 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH GOTTHARD
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT GOTTHARD
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