Strangelet
First Bite
Independent Release
2014
Strangelet is a hard rock newcomer from Southern Germany, which was formed in 2011. “First Bite” is their debut full-length album. The band previously released two EPs.
Strangelet seem to admiringly fancy 80s hard & heavy acts, such as Guns n’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Scorpions (their 80s era), Motley Crue, Poison, Danger Danger and the list goes on. At times they sound more US than the average European band too. I know that a lot of new bands are influenced by the 80s hard rock era and the best they can do is to slavishly copy all the big bands of the past. Being fairly young notwithstanding, Strangelet are talented and they have the rock & roll attitude and will to go on. Surely, they need to mature and blend their influences with their own ideas more cohesively. The album production is quite good but I guess it will also be updated over the years along with the band’s music.
Strangelet also has the hottest drummer I’ve seen in a hard rock band in a while, the blonde Jessica. Hot and a very good drummer! That’s a great combination. Other than that, the singer, Stefan has a good rockin’ voice, the guitarist Tobias is delivering the goods, while the bass player Finn and the keyboardist/producer Jonas are concluding the band’s line-up.
I do think that the power ballad “Stillborn” is the highlight of the album. Also the opener “Privilege of Power”, which has also been released as a video, is powerful and rockin’. “Catching the Fire” sounds too US H&H and that ain’t working that well in the end. The guest musicians on the album are: Markus Ullrich (Lanfear) on lead guitar on “Privilege of Power”, Nicole Gessler on vocals both on “Stillborn” and “All that’s Left”, Chris Aldinger (African Corpse) on vocals on “Touch the Sky”, and Andreas Ullmer & Alex Noe on “Hell and Back Blues” on harp and bass respectively. Without any doubt, Strangelet have set a strong rock foundation with “First Bite” for the future…
Strangelet seem to admiringly fancy 80s hard & heavy acts, such as Guns n’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Scorpions (their 80s era), Motley Crue, Poison, Danger Danger and the list goes on. At times they sound more US than the average European band too. I know that a lot of new bands are influenced by the 80s hard rock era and the best they can do is to slavishly copy all the big bands of the past. Being fairly young notwithstanding, Strangelet are talented and they have the rock & roll attitude and will to go on. Surely, they need to mature and blend their influences with their own ideas more cohesively. The album production is quite good but I guess it will also be updated over the years along with the band’s music.
Strangelet also has the hottest drummer I’ve seen in a hard rock band in a while, the blonde Jessica. Hot and a very good drummer! That’s a great combination. Other than that, the singer, Stefan has a good rockin’ voice, the guitarist Tobias is delivering the goods, while the bass player Finn and the keyboardist/producer Jonas are concluding the band’s line-up.
I do think that the power ballad “Stillborn” is the highlight of the album. Also the opener “Privilege of Power”, which has also been released as a video, is powerful and rockin’. “Catching the Fire” sounds too US H&H and that ain’t working that well in the end. The guest musicians on the album are: Markus Ullrich (Lanfear) on lead guitar on “Privilege of Power”, Nicole Gessler on vocals both on “Stillborn” and “All that’s Left”, Chris Aldinger (African Corpse) on vocals on “Touch the Sky”, and Andreas Ullmer & Alex Noe on “Hell and Back Blues” on harp and bass respectively. Without any doubt, Strangelet have set a strong rock foundation with “First Bite” for the future…