OUTLOUD - review added 11th August 2009
Album Review: Outloud (self-titled) (2009)
For fans of: Hard Rock... and Firewind... but not as you know it
Outloud was officially formed in 2008, although has roots stretching back to 2004. The line-up includes Firewind members Bob Katsionis (keyboards and guitar)
and Mark Cross (drums), Talon vocalist Chandler Mogel, Jason Mercury on bass and Tony Kash on guitar.
Recorded in 'The Basement' studio in Athens, mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween), the album consists of 11 original compositions written by the guys themselves.
The sound is full of energy, bright, melodious and, at times, tainted with an air of 70's chic. It isn't power-laden or bottom-spankingly heavy like Firewind, but arguably follows a similar template of high-adrenaline delivery and uncompromising musicianship. The guitars are speed-licious with a wonderful tone, the rhythm section is pounding but resolutely not in your face. The measured showmanship pays dividends throughout the record.
Chandler Mogel's voice isn't going to send shivers through your pants, but there's something characterful in his tone. He has a clean sound that's arguably more boy-band than rock-god, but this eponymous debut benefits from his delivery in a big way. With a grizzled veteran up front the album wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well. The writing is fresh and exciting, and some of the songs are sprinting for glory with this year's best.
'What I Need' starts things off in an upbeat speedy fashion. It's not the most original song ever, but the retro-tinged sound and ear-battering chorus are undeniably great. 'We Run' heads in the opposite direction with a superb modern sound, enhanced by a top-spec bridge and chorus. It's another speedy track that only briefly pauses for breath.
'Tonight' starts like a trendified version of Bon Jovi's 'I'd Die For You' before heading down a different fork. It's a hard rocking track with another good chorus. The combination of piano and guitar, especially the huge 80's solo, is mighty fine. 'Search For Truth' sounds innocuous to start with, but again the chorus comes along and tears your face off... in the nicest way possible. It's a HUGE track that gets better the louder you play it. It'll leave you needing new ear drums.
'This Broken Heart' is another track that starts anonymously but, by the chorus, has grown to the size of a small city. It's a mid-tempo ballad with a set of aggressive guitars and a loud emotional climax. I'm torn between it being obvious or bloody amazing. It's a good track either way though. No such debate over 'Breathing The Fire'. It's another retro-tainted track with a brilliant off-kilter bridge and catchy chorus. The guitar playing is absolutely fabulous. Even the drumming and bass nails it.
'Wild Life' is a very good track by normal measures but, on this album, it's almost swamped. The spunky groove-rich 'Broken Sleep' approaches the land of average too. Again, it's a good song that's not up to the vast scale of the earlier tracks. The soloing nearly makes up for it though. 'Out In The Night' is a testosterone fuelled classic rock track, whilst 'Lovesigh' is a sweet stripped back ballad with an acoustic lead and heart-touching chorus. The album finishes with the title track, a boisterous shout along effort with more in the way of balls than panache. Still, they are jolly nice balls so who's counting?
Outloud's debut is a solid album with a mixture of new and old sounds. There are some top tracks here and certainly nothing terrible, but it does tail off in the second half. On balance a fine release but a few tracks short of brilliance.
Check out... The first half.
Track List:
01. What I Need
02. We Run
03. Tonight
04. Search For Truth
05. This Broken Heart
06. Breathing The Fire
07. Wild Life
08. Broken Sleep
09. Out In The Night
10. Lovesigh
11. Out Loud
Label: Frontiers Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
