This album combines the strengths of the apparently effortless melodic Finnish sound with the band’s own imprint. Amoral are an interesting outfit, having started in 1997 as a cover band before deciding they needed to have their own musical focus. On “Show Your Colors”, their fourth full release, they prove their versatility with a collection of catchy and anthemic songs. “A Shade of Gray”, the third track, enters into thrash metal territory, later developing a headbanging riff and a darker section, in common with the rest of the album, it’s friendly and accessible. The previous track “Release” is more typical. This one is heavy melodic rock with a pop structure. There are occasional dark moments but the main riff is hooky and twirls round and round. It has a hint of Power Metal about it.
As the album developed, I had visions of Sebastian Bach and Skid Row pumping out Arena Rock. The groovy “Perfection Design” and “Sex n’ Satan” are right out of this book. It’s not just the song structures. The singer Ari Koivunen even sounds like Mr Bach. The next three tracks are variations on the rock n roll theme. “Song for the Stubborn” has a rip-roaring, colourful guitar riff, which lead us into rapid-fire action with drums to match. It moves, it’s guitar orientated and is “light metal” if there is such a thing. Rock on … “Vivid” is along the same lines, then comes “Gave Up Easy”. American in style like its predecessors, it’s less pacy and more measured. In common with the other tracks, there’s a catchy and memorable chorus line with a grooving guitar to accompany it. “Last October” is quieter and a more reflective insertion as is traditional on these occasions. It’s fine and the acoustic work is nice.
“Metal” as a tag is clearly not important to Amoral, and any illusion of it is thrown away with “Year of the Suckerpunch”, which is the archetypal hit single with its addictive chorus. Basically it’s “Eye of the Tiger” but more melodic, Primary School disco stuff with cool light metal riffs. It’s a great pop song, without a doubt. It slows down and builds up, and now we’ve had a bit of practice we can all sing along to it.
The band clearly have a sense of the dramatic and prove this on the closing track ‘Exit’, which after a flamboyant start cultivates a heavy sound. The signs are of something big happening. It’s a well-balanced track, heavy with the guitar solos and the rock n roll style to which we have become accustomed. A good track to end with.
If you like catchy melody, appreciate rock, and don’t object to pop structures and the occasional bit of cheesiness, I’m sure you will like this album. A warning though: the trouble with anthems is that they tend to be addictive, so since I first heard it I’ve been incoherently wandering round London mumbling “Here I am standing with the best of them, it’s the year of the sucker punch”. I’m not complaining though. “Show Your Colors” is a really refreshing album and I’m very glad to have had the chance to review it.
http://www.myspace.com/amoralweb
http://www.amoralweb.com
http://www.spinefarm.fi
