CD REVIEW: BANG! by GOTTHARD

BANG! by Gotthard
(The End Records)

Swiss rock vets Gotthard return with their latest release, 'Bang!'. Nic Maeder on vocals, Leo Leoni on guitar, Freddy Scherer on guitar, Marc Lynn on bass and Hena Habegger on drums. This is the band's second with new singer, Nic Maeder. He's no Steve Lee (R.I.P.), but he does have a great voice and brings his own flavor to the band.  The new album was mixed at the Dutch Wisseloord Studios (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner) by Ronald Prent (The Scorpions, Def Leppard, Within Temptation). For me Gotthard has always been a band that brings that classic hard rock sound in the vein of Whitesnake and Deep Purple to the table. A formula the band has used with success ever since their conception. On the new album the band serve up that "Classic Sound",  to perfection. Powered by superb vocals and solid lyrics from Nic Maeder, great melodic songs and one or two acoustic charmers. The guitar tandem of Leo Leoni and Freddy Scherer sound great as usual. The chemistry these two is like white on rice. Great duelling guitar trade offs and tasty Hamond organ fills and sweeping background power chords. As they exhibit on rockers like, "Get Up ‘N’ Move On", "Jump The Gun", "Spread Your Wings" and "Red On A Sleeve". The title track, "Bang!" ( "Feel What I Feel", was the lead off single for the European version) is the first single off off the album a rocking track that has tons swagger. As a bonus on the U.S. release, the band offer three bonus tracks, "I Want It All", "You Can’t Stop Me" and "My Daddy Told Me". Overall, 'Bang!' is well produced and well mixed. Other bands should take a lesson or two from these guys, because they do everything right. Although this album is a bit more commercial sounding than some of the band's previous outings, it's perfectly fine with me! If you like melodic rock, you'll love Gotthard, there's no way around it. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine