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21OCTAYNE
Into The Open
AFM (2014)
Rating: 8.5/10

Somewhat of a new supergroup, Germany’s 21Octayne features the mercurial talents of vocalist Hagen Grohe (Joe Perry Project), guitarist Marco Wriedt (Axxis), bassist Andrew Lauer (Paul Gilbert) and drummer Alex Landenburg (Rhapsody).

Into The Open is the result of this coming together of flair; an album that boasts 12 numbers which should be enough to delight anyone with a penchant for soulful heavy metal, big rhythms and, above all, infectious choruses.

The first of these comes via the orgasmic grooves of album opener ‘She’s Killing Me’, which in my opinion has a Buckcherry-type swagger to it, even with Grohe’s almost scratchy styled vocals which bring us to that killer chorus of, “I’ve got a bad, bad feeling, God I think it’s killing me, I can’t believe that she’s taken my breath away”.

This is ultra-cool rock ’n’ roll for the masses, featuring punchy drums and fluid guitars. There’s also some fantastic variation, spanning the spectrum of funky dynamics and some Aerosmith-styled strutting. ‘Dear Friend’ is a prime example of how the combo effortlessly slip between styles; at first it charges out of the blocks with a truly magnificent traditional metal trudge which then transforms into thrashier climes before the unexpected melodic whisper. Even so, the band once again inject the unpredictable, inserting jarring rhythms agai,n which are contradicted by Grohe’s almost placid vocal tones before he spews out the angst-ridden lines of, “I was there when you needed a friend, I was there when you needed a helping hand, now I don’t get why you did this to me so I’m afraid I’m going to have to hate you eternally”.

This is 21Octayne at their most furious, again reminding me of Buckcherry at their venomous best; the guitars are fierce, the percussion damaging and with the lows and highs in the vocals there is also the slight hint of Sixx A.M. yet with added conviction. The first two tracks are ideal cuts to kickstart the heart for what can only be described as a high-octane opus that in spite of its contemporary feel has a real steely glare.

Of course, it’s not all about the rage and weight; ‘Turn The World’ is a delightful harmonious, upbeat rocker, while ‘Don’t Turn Away’ is about as funky as funky gets with its bubbling bass intro which eventually melts into a hip-shaking riff. The bruising weight returns with the crashing ‘My Teddy Bear’, while the title track is a sprawling, soul-revealing anthem.

There’s so much to savour on this record; an album bereft of filler and featuring some of the best grooves I’ve heard this year. Slap on any track and you’ll find yourself appreciative of the varying moods and mesmerised by the subtle shifts in tempo, which one moment make way for hefty riffs and the next flirting as delicious, summery ballads, as in the case of ‘I Will Always Be Right There’ which is breathtaking to say the least.

What a superb rock album this is. Need I say more?

Neil Arnold

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