Tad Morose - Revenant

(CD Album Review)

***1/2

Was it worth a ten year wait?

Tad Morose return with their first album in ten years! With a new front man in tow in face only two members on this album actually played on their last album 2003's 'Monus Vivendi'. Long time fans need not worry the band have returned with a solid slice of classic Heavy Metal! The progressive elements show up here and there but never outstay their welcome or become over bearing.

The new vocalist for the band is former Steel Attack man Ronny Hemlin who has actually been in the band since 2008. This album though is his recording debut though and he fits right into the line-up like he was their all along. Sounding not far off from Tim 'Ripper' Owens. He has a gritty low voice with a high range. All the songs have the right recipe of big melodic riffs and big epic and above all catchy chorus. One only has to run through opener 'Beneath a veil of crying Souls' to see all is well in Tad Morose 2013 or the blistering solos during 'Absence of Light'.

I have not been introduced so much to Tad Morose myself but I can see that they work really well as a unit with interesting guitar parts by both guitarists founding member Christer 'Jrunt' Andersson that has been in the band since 1991 that's almost 23 years and newbie Kenneth Jonsson who has only been in for a couple of years. Sometimes when a band has had so many line-up changes the lose something but with this band it's not the case they sound as new as they ever done and could give any Power Metal band a run for their money.

I'll leave hardcore fans to debate how this measures up against the old material or who the better front man is between Ronny and past vocalists Joe Comeau, Kristian 'Krille' Andren and Anders 'Wispen' Westlund who have all left a legacy behind them. But I can tell you is this an enjoyable, atmospheric piece of modern yet classic sounding heavy and there I said Power Metal, so don't let the Death Metal Esq. cover put you off this record because you will enjoy it.

Review by Joe Denby

***

Discovering why Tad Morose hadn't released an album in ten years!

I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that have fond memories of this band, as I’ve heard good things about their previous releases, however, I was not familiar with Tad Morose at all before listening to their new album 'Revenant'. As I hadn’t heard any of their past records it was not possible to base the review on their old material, so I’ve taken a stab in the dark and listened to this CD with completely open eyes and ears. Ok! so I gather these guys became a bit of a cult band back in the early 2000’s? Not surprising that this was the case, as generally any band coming out of Sweden generally spelt quality.

From hearing this album from scratch I’d say they are a traditional Power Metal outfit, which I guess would fall into the American market very well? There are some very obvious traditional Heavy Metal sounds throughout this work, but there is also an underlying nod towards a more Progressive Metal style. I guess the overall sound could be described as Power Metal with even more balls! The band had gone through a few line up changes through the years, but original member Christer Anderson and long standing drummer Peter Moran decided a couple of years back to get this outfit back together.

The idea was to get some highly accomplished musicians back in the fold including vocalist Ronny Hemlin, who is probably better known to many as being a member of Steel Attack, and create a new album, the result being 'Revenant'. I think Ronny definitely brings a dark feel to this album with his aggressive and deep vocal style. I guess it was no mean feat to take the place of the bands previous vocalist Urban Breed filling the shoes of such an infamous singer must have been a daunting task indeed, but he’s done an admirable job. My main criticism of this album is I can’t really pick a stand out track, or do an individual track analysis due to all them following similar theme and almost merging into each other. I’m not too sure how this album will fair in what is a fairly saturated Metal scene at the moment, but if you’re not a fan of the flowery Pop Rock which is also pretty popular right now, then definitely give this album a listen.

Review by Helen Westby