{"id":30145,"date":"2013-06-11T16:54:40","date_gmt":"2013-06-11T21:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=30145"},"modified":"2014-02-08T08:36:18","modified_gmt":"2014-02-08T13:36:18","slug":"guru-white-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2013\/guru-white-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Guru | White<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Derric Miller<\/span>
\n– Managing Editor —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"GURU\"Spain\u2019s Guru is the latest release from MelodicRock Records, first known as a website keeping the spirit of melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal alive, and now injecting its own passion for music to the masses via new artists. It\u2019s hard to argue with the logic here \u2014 if it\u2019s released on MelodicRock Records, you can expect \u2026 well \u2026 Melodic Rock!<\/p>\n

Although touted as a band along the lines of Extreme, Toto and Journey, you can go back just a few years to be reminded of an incredible and underrated band, Brazil\u2019s Pleasure Maker. What Guru does, much like Pleasure Maker, is make a synthesis of the melodic tendencies of Bon Jovi and yet feature blazing guitar leads and solos like Van Halen or Dokken. Listen to the solo that fades out at the end of their hit \u201cStraight to Your Heart\u201d and you\u2019ll hear it. <\/p>\n

The title track \u201cWhite\u201d starts the release, a thumping, gritty composition with intricate riffing and a heavy bottom end. Lead singer Dagarod sings like a manly man yet with melody, akin to Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids fame. (Dagarod never gets as guttural as Atkins can, though.) The leads in the background as the song ends are intense, raging yet bubbly like a Malmsteen solo. It\u2019s just a damn cool lead in to Guru\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n

Their poppy side jumps at you next on the Winger-type mid-tempo song \u201cStraight To Your Heart.\u201d Maybe it\u2019ll remind you a bit of Whitesnake as well, since both bands featured stellar guitar \u2026 gurus. You can hear a hint of an accent on the slower songs and for the ladies \u2026 they are going to be big fans of this track. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf You Go\u201d is a ballad, a power ballad in the truest sense. With just airy keys and a breathy Dagarod singing at the onset, when the acoustic guitar kicks in you\u2019ll start thinking about Warrant or Giant. These kind of songs work well in an arena, where beautiful women finally find a use for fat guys\u2014sitting on their shoulders while they wave their cell phones or if they are luddites, their lighters. It\u2019s all kinds of awesome. <\/p>\n

In case you thought Guru was all about just pop, though, check out \u201cAngry Song.\u201d Since comparisons are going to happen anyway, you\u2019ll hear the soul of someone like Jeff Scott Soto in this composition. It\u2019s funky, danceable, with even the sound of horns (could be effects) and it\u2019s massively different than what you\u2019ve heard before. That\u2019s a great thing; hearing the same song over and over means you won\u2019t listen again.<\/p>\n

Still, what else do they have to prove besides understanding if they take themselves too seriously or have a sense of humor? That\u2019s answered on \u201cMy Rocker Ass.\u201d While not Steel Panther-funny, it\u2019s lighthearted, still poppy, and if you ain\u2019t singing along to \u201cIt\u2019s against my rocker ass!\u201d then your primary language is sign language. <\/p>\n

Guru doesn\u2019t stray from the quality on the last songs. \u201cThe Voice Inside\u201d is another touching ballad and \u201cThe Voice Inside\u201d is a rocker. <\/p>\n

Guru\u2019s White<\/em> is a somewhat surprising release because when you compare a band to Extreme, Toto, Journey, Pleasure Maker, Van Halen, Dokken, Pretty Maids, Yngwie Malmsteen, Winger, Warrant, Giant and Jeff Scott Soto, the outcome seems to be \u201cI\u2019ve heard this before.\u201d But you haven\u2019t, unless you have this release already. The comparisons work because if Guru has elements of all these incredible bands in their sound, who the hell wouldn\u2019t want to hear it? <\/p>\n

Genre: Melodic Hard Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nDavid Palau\u2014Guitar and vocals
\nJordi Vericat\u2014Bass
\nDagarod\u2014Vocals
\nToni Mateos\u2014Drums <\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\nWhite
\nStraight To Your Heart
\nIt’s All Different Now
\nIf You Go
\nIn My Life
\nBreak The Spell
\nWon’t B 2Gether
\nAngry Song
\nMy Rocker Ass
\nRay Of Light
\nThe Voice Inside
\nI Don’t Give A Damn<\/p>\n

Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:
\nThe Voice Inside
\nIf I Go
\nDaddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy
\nAddicted To That Rush<\/p>\n

Label: MelodicRock Records<\/p>\n

Online: http:\/\/www.melodicrock.com\/showcase\/guru-white.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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