{"id":39481,"date":"2014-04-17T19:34:13","date_gmt":"2014-04-18T00:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=39481"},"modified":"2014-04-17T19:34:13","modified_gmt":"2014-04-18T00:34:13","slug":"outloud-lets-get-serious-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/outloud-lets-get-serious-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Outloud | Let\u2019s Get Serious<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska<\/span>
\n– Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"OUTLOUDFor the majority of bands, raw and inexperienced at first, it takes much longer than just a few years and two albums to carve out their trademark sound. And yet, even with their 2009 debut album the Greek\/American melodic rock act Outloud knew it was the right direction they were heading in. Now they\u2019re back with their third release Let\u2019s Get Serious<\/em>, which music-wise picks up exactly where its predecessor Love Catastrophe left off. And if anything\u2019s certain about this album, it\u2019s that listeners enamored with Outloud \u2014 or melodic rock in general \u2014 have been anticipating it for far too long. But as proven by Let\u2019s Get Serious, it was definitely worth waiting. <\/p>\n

It takes only to hear a straight-in-your-face, dynamic opening riff to the first track \u201cDeath Rock\u201d to realize no one who loved the two previous Outloud releases would be disappointed by this one. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna rock you, we\u2019re gonna rock you to death!\u201d is what the band promises in the hard-edged, punchy opener. And with brilliant Chandler Mogel delivering some really feisty vocals, you know you\u2019re gonna believe them. <\/p>\n

More catchy are the next two songs, \u201cI Was So Blind\u201d and \u201cOne More Time,\u201d a well-crafted pieces of guitar driven melodic hard rock enriched with tinkling keyboards. The traces of what was best in previous Outloud releases resonate especially in the latter. \u201cBury The Knife\u201d is one of the highlights of the whole album. The track starts as the stellar AOR-ish keyboard\/guitar duel with a huge, irresistibly catchy chorus \u2014 and yet, in the interlude before the guitar solo the band gets unexpectedly heavy, with Chandler aggressively belting out the subsequent lines. <\/p>\n

Another melodic gem is \u201cLike A Dream\u201d, which features some outstanding vocal harmonies, followed up by a mellow, acoustic ballad \u201cIt Really Doesn\u2019t Matter.\u201d Things get somber and reflective only for a little while, however, next are a big arena rocker \u201cAll In Vain\u201d and a bit more feisty \u201cA While To Go,\u201d both tracks heavily guitar-laden and fast-paced. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a keyboard-driven mid-tempo \u201cAnother Kind Of Angel\u201d, which certainly reminds one that Outloud is primarily about great hooks and catchy melodies. It precedes \u201cLet\u2019s Get Serious.\u201d a speedy and dynamic instrumental duel \u2014 a real showcase of the band\u2019s skill and prowess. \u201cToy Soldier\u201d is perhaps the heaviest song ever recorded by Outloud \u2013 based on modern rock riffs, aggressive and straightforward, with the guest contribution by Adrenaline Mob\u2019s guitarist Mike Orlando. <\/p>\n

And as for the icing on the cake, here\u2019s OMD\u2019s \u201cEnola Gay\u201d \u2026 with a twist! Outloud\u2019s rendition of this vintage anti-war classic is no drastic alteration in comparison with 1980 original, but nevertheless remains fresh and powerful \u2014 and clearly affected by the band\u2019s trademark style.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Get Serious<\/em> portrays Outloud as the band cultivates and perfects their trademarked sound they\u2019ve invented and continued throughout the two previous albums (We’ll Rock You To Hell and Back Again<\/em> and Love Catastrophe<\/em>, 2009 and 2011, respectively). There is no question of breaking new ground here, and no experiments music-wise; the Greek\/American band returns with almost exactly what one could expect from them. But what counts is that Let\u2019s Get Serious<\/em> is a perfectly crafted melodic rock album \u2014 comprised of big hooks, bewitching melodies and brilliant songwriting, a showcase to the band\u2019s outstanding musicianship and Chandler Mogel\u2019s excellent vocal performance. For every melodic hard rock\/AOR fan, this is a must-have. <\/p>\n

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

Band:
\nChandler Mogel – vocals
\nBob Katsionis – guitars, Keyboards
\nSverd – bass
\nKostas Milonas – drums
\nJim Scordilis – guitar
\nSpecial Guest: George Kollias (Nile) – all drums on album
\nSpecial Guest: Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) – guitar solo on \u201cToy Soldiers\u201d<\/p>\n

Track List:
\n1. Death Rock!
\n2. I Was So Blind
\n3. One More Time
\n4. Bury The Knife
\n5. Like A Dream
\n6. It Really Doesn’t Matter
\n7. A While To Go
\n8. All In Vain
\n9. Another Kind of Angel
\n10. Let’s Get Serious
\n11. Toy Soldiers
\n12. Enola Gay<\/p>\n

Label: AOR Heaven<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/www.outloud-rock.com<\/a> – http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/outloudtheband<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 9.5\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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