Hardcore Circus Wake Up Call
by Mark Allen
Staff Writer
With the word “hardcore” right there in the band’s name, it’s only natural to wonder if that’s the style of metal on tap, but those who “abhor the core” in their music can relax and wipe the look of disgust off their face, because this Swedish super-group actually have their feet firmly planted in melodic hard rock territory, albeit with a heavier, more metallic approach than is typically found in the genre.
While this is being hailed as a “super-group” project, you are forgiven if most—maybe all—of the players’ names are unfamiliar to you, though most melodic rock fans have probably unknowingly crossed paths with at least some of these guys on other albums. With the exception of Mats Leven, who unleashes his stellar voice in the harmony vocal department, the members have slaved in other bands without gaining any real notoriety.
But lack of notoriety does not necessarily mean a lack of talent and all the players have significant ties to some legends in the melodic hard rock community. Drummer Joakim Bloohm worked with Chris Laney on Animal’s Violent New Breed CD. Lead singer Jorgen Bolmstad worked with Thomas Vikstrom in the Swedish melodic rock band Surround. Bassist Nalley Pahisson has plied his trade with the likes of Treat, Last Autumn’s Dream, and Therion. Rounding out the roster is guitarist Carl-Johan Grimmark who has showcased his fiery neoclassical licks with Narnia, Rob Rock, Savior Machine, and Divinefire.
Speaking of guitars, while Grimmark may be best known for his sizzling neoclassical shredding, there is none of that on display here; instead, the guitars are of the take-no-prisoners variety, thundering with heavy grooves and muscular as a raging rhino. If you’re looking for mean, powerful, in-your-face riffs that really pack a primal punch, then this album is probably right up your proverbial alley.
Now, fans of the fluffy be forewarned, while Hardcore Circus may be a melodic hard rock band, they are not clean or polished or spit-shined to a high gloss in the studio; the production is on the raw side, a little muddy, and drenched in a thick, beefy bottom end sound. The band aimed to bring a tough, biting edge to this style of music and in terms of pure attitude, they have succeeded.
Unfortunately, the area they have not succeeded in is the melodic aspects, making the mistake of shortchanging the sharp, catchy hooks the genre demands in favor of that balls-out heaviness. Hardcore Circus whip up a few solid songs such as “Who I Am,” “Tattooed Junkie,” and “Miracle,” but far too often they settle for choruses with limited commercial hooks, even resorting to simply singing the song title over and over again. Sorry, but all the attitude in the world can’t make up for Bolmstad snarling “Life is a hardcore circus” four times in a row with no obvious hook or lyrical deviation. Which is a shame, really, because had the band taken the time to tool their choruses into something memorable instead of trying to impress solely on the basis of their metallic merits, they might have actually delivered an album that made the melodic hard rock world sit up and take notice. Instead, the melodic hard rock world is more apt to greet this album with absolute ambivalence, worthy of neither derision nor dedication.
Bottom line, this isn’t a terrible release by any stretch of the imagination, but all it really has going for it are slamming guitars and tons of ‘tude. Sure, you can glean some enjoyment from this kind of album, but the lack of quality choruses makes this the hard rock equivalent of going to the circus only to find out the clowns are missing in action; no matter how good the rest of the show is, you’ll feel you got gypped.
Genre: Melodic hard rock/metal
Band:
Joakim Bloohm (drums)
Jorgen Bolmstad (lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
Nalley Pahlsson (bass)
Carl-Johan Grimmark (guitars)
Guest musician:
Mats Leven (harmony vocals)
Track Listing
1. She Goes Down
2. Queen of Dirt
3. Under My Skin
4. Who I Am
5. Life
6. Hardcore Circus
7. Wake Up Call
8. Pain
9. Tattooed Junkie
10. Miracle
Liljegren Records
Hardrock Haven rating: 6.9/10