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HARD ACTION
Sinister Vibes

Svart (2015)
Rating: 6/10

Hard Action is a Finnish foursome formed in March 2014 by Speedtrap members Ville Valavuo (guitar) and Markus Hietamies (drums), along with vocalist / guitarist Günter Kivioja (Chestburster). In late 2014, the current line-up was completed by bassist A-P Heinola (First Times).

Sinister Vibes is the debut release from a band that most certainly has no intention of being original, as long as they rock hard. Of course, with the many bands within the metal genre opting to regress rather than progress, it comes as no surprise that Hard Action’s debut is a high energy, hard rockin’ straight up rock ’n’ roll record that doesn’t try to be anything else.

As to how long I can put up with such formulaic retro rock remains to be seen, but Sinister Vibes is a half-decent affair boasting a punked up feel fused with a classic 70s and early 80s rock ’n’ roll blast. It’s riotous party music featuring some good tunes; namely the ballsy ‘Dead Dogs’ which is the lead single and possibly the album’s catchiest moment, but it’s still the back to basics, no frills sweaty orgy we’ve been treated to on numerous occasions in the last decade or so.

I guess when there’s no more room in Hell, bands simply opt for the bog standard but sweaty punch ’n’ roll where the riffs drive hard, the skins rattle with conviction and the vocals make an average stab at rock formality. Of course, we still need strong songs behind the façade and Hard Action have enough in their locker to entertain for half of this album, but then it all becomes a tad mediocre. Indeed, the first half of the opus is rather good. Again, I revert back to the oily ‘Dead Dogs’, the straight up frenzy of ‘Chosen Few’, and the swaggering ‘Cut To The Bone’, but it’s not music that will change your local street – let alone the world. Nevertheless, if you like fiery leads, and above all loose, and often raw rawk ’n’ roll, then if you have a free half hour or so I’d suggest sticking this one on.

Other than the aforementioned, the tracks soon become to melt into one, Finland now joining Sweden at attempting to reinvent the retro with the slow-burning grooves of ‘Night Moves’ which is less frantic than those that came before, while ‘Deadweight (Cut Me Loose)’ is another rock ’n’ roll by numbers anthem full of energy and matched by the catchy fires of ‘Watch Me Burn’ and ‘Hey You’.

I get the feeling the band didn’t take long recording this opus. That’s probably the feel they were going for, but it doesn’t always work to be honest. Indeed, a few songs feel like filler; beginning with ‘Hey You’ and continuing with the average title track, the dull stomp of ‘Gunpoint’ and closing ‘No Lesson Learned’, all of which seem to follow the same path – promising swagger, but delivering little in terms of hooking themselves into the memory.

Hard Action is your bog standard band, but because of the fad at the moment they could well acquire a steady fanbase.

Neil Arnold

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