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W.E.T.
Earthrage

Frontiers (2018)
Rating: 8/10

Swedish / American rockers W.E.T. is not a band I’ve followed religiously since their debut self-titled opus in 2009. Maybe it was because of the long bouts of inactivity that caused me to drift away as the principal band members – Jeff Scott Soto (lead vocals, Sons Of Apollo / ex-Talisman), Erik Mårtensson (guitar and vocals, Eclipse) and Robert Säll (keyboards and guitar, Work Of Art) – were involved in other projects. But third album Earthrage has landed on my lap and I’m along for the ride.

Soto, Mårtensson and Säll are joined by guitarist Magnus Henriksson (Eclipse) and drummer Robban Bäck (ex-Eclipse), and together they’ve concocted a delightful melodic rock opus, bereft of cliché and instead packed with intelligent and well-crafted songs, melodious but with punch.

Yes, a ballad or two is present; ‘Heart Is On The Line’ will literally tug on the heartstrings of even the hardiest of souls, while ‘The Burning Pain Of Love’ lives up to its title. But let’s go back to the start with opener ‘Watch The Fire’. Beginning with an instant chug and militant charge, the twin vocal attack supplies soul and crystal clear subtlety before that pulsating anthemic chorus erupts in joyous fashion. And the solo from Magnus Henriksson is a joy to behold. But what else did you expect from such a team?

And you just know what’s coming as the album unravels. We get the nice tirade of rockers in the form of ‘Burn’ and ‘Kings On Thunder Road’, both upbeat designs brimming with catchiness which are contradicted by the lighter tones of ‘Elegantly Wasted’. This is one of the surprise gems of the album in its construction and features a chorus that hooks immediately and doesn’t let go. Jeff Scott Soto really shines on this track, which features some nice keyboard tones too.

Then it’s time to knuckle down with the album’s heaviest cut; the battering groove chug of ‘Urgent’, where a dark, brooding riff ensues before the glimmers of the simple yet effective chorus break up the mesh of steely guitar. And that’s the wonder of W.E.T., a band so sublime in whatever it creates diversifying between up-tempo rockers like ‘Dangerous’, hinting at that Eclipse design with its riffing and then blazing chorus, to the concluding ‘The Never-Ending Retraceable Dream’, an epic track of lush melodies and summery guitar tones.

W.E.T. employ a classic formula of hooky guitars, powerful yet soulful techniques and seemingly simple, yet at times unearthly song writing methods. The bridge between commercial arena rock and yet more cutting, deeply grooved tunes is effortlessly constructed throughout. And while it’s far from being a heavy metal album, or at times even a hard rock affair, Earthrage remains candy to the ears; a premium slice of AOR that isn’t afraid to burn as well as caress.

Neil Arnold

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