Review by Andy Hawes for MPM
Melodic Rock supergroup W.E.T. featuring Eclipse mainman Erik Martensson and lead guitarist Magnus Hendrikkson, plus ex-Work of Art guitarist/keyboard player Robert Sall, drummer Jamie Borger, (Talisman, Treat, Last Autumn’s Dream) ex Work of Art bassist Andreas Passmark and journeyman vocalist extraordinaire Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Soul Sirkus, etc) have just released their latest album, Apex, on Frontiers Music S.R.L.
Frontiers do have a habit of creating and releasing ‘supergroup’ albums with mixed degrees of success, but W.E.T. have always been a standout, helped by the fact that the songwriting has always been so consistently strong, and Apex continues that legacy of strength a full 17 years after their quite brilliant debut album for the label. This is an absolute cracker and no mistake!
Opening with ‘Believer’, the band explodes into action with a track that exudes everything that is great about this kind of music. It sounds pretty much like the best tracks from the mighty Talisman debut from the late 1980s, all chugging guitar riffery, pounding drums and of course Jeff Scott Soto’s monumentally superb vocals. Hook after hook roars from the speakers, topped off by colossal vocal harmonies and a fabulously widdle-tastic guitar solo. Nothing new under the sun here but this is a Melodic Hard Rock fan’s wet dream come to life!
Things continue in the same vein with the monster single ‘This House is On Fire’ which, unusually for W.E.T. features dual lead vocals from Soto and Martensson and is another massive slice of Melodic Hard Rock with more ridiculously catchy chorus hooks and a massive guitar-led production and arrangement. Special mention must be made of the production and mix which is big, bold, guitar-led, clear and vibrant. Just what you need for this kind of music.
The uptempo assault continues with ‘What Are We Fighting For?’ which carries on exactly where the previous two tracks left off. More wonderful dual lead vocals characterise this track. The arrangement is perhaps a little less thunderous than the preceding two tracks, but this works perfectly on a truly marvellous slice of hard-edged AOR. There is some great lead guitar on this track too – just the right balance of melody and shred – and the chorus hook is just absolutely huge! We’re only three tracks in and W.E.T. have clearly set their stall out in quite emphatic fashion.
‘Love Conquers All’ is up next: a rather more sedate mid-paced anthem which once again proves that W.E.T. have struck the motherlode of colossal hooklines, as pretty much the whole song is hook after hook, with some nice light and shade in the production and with a guitar solo that has hints of a Celtic melody lurking within it. Unexpected and very effective!
‘Where Are The Heroes Now’ kicks in with a quite filthy guitar riff but this time supported by some actual audible keyboards in the mix, although it isn’t long before the guitars take over again. Dual vocals feature again on another mighty rocker which is heavy on the melodies yet still hits home with some chunky guitars and Jamie Borger’s always rock-solid and driving drumming. There is a very cool guitar outro on this one too!
More Talisman-esque riffery heralds ‘Breaking Up’ which uses light and shade very effectively on another massive Melodic Hard Rocker. While I’m normally a big fan of huge keyboard layers in my Melodic Rock, I’m really enjoying the guitar-led production here. It’s just done so well. The guitars are absolutely massive, but at no point does the melody suffer in any way. This is pretty much a perfect example of how to write and produce supremely melodic Hard Rock music and still keep the guitars hugely upfront.
This approach continues with the stop-start riffery of ‘Nowhere To Run’ which carries all the hallmarks that have been so prevalent throughout this massive album so far and it really does seem as if the boys can do no wrong on this one!
Bluesy Stratocaster riffs lead in ‘Pay Dirt’ but the huge power chords aren’t far away. Perhaps the weakest track so far, this is still one mighty mutha of a Melodic Hard Rock song with more multilayered vocal hooks and driving powerhouse rhythm section work.
‘Pleasure and Pain’ has one of those brooding minor-key clean guitar intros so beloved by Metal bands back in the 80s and soon smoulders into life as a supremely excellent kick-ass piece of mid-paced Melodic Rock majesty with yet more utterly colossal chorus hooks and some delicate keyboards which add atmosphere to the verses. Absolutely awesome track!
‘Stay Alive’ is up next, characterised by a slightly more ‘modern’ production/arrangement in the intro and verses. Probably the one song on the album that is most similar to Martensson and Hendriksson’s band Eclipse, it slots perfectly in here bringing the tempo roaring back up after the slightly slower pace of the preceding track.
The final track on this incredible album is ‘Day By Day’ which continues the theme of the rest of the album, being another hugely uptempo hook-laden Melodic Hard Rock anthem. It’s a very fitting way to end the album, as it concludes it on a massive high note. Classic W.E.T. and no mistake.
W.E.T. have never made a bad album, but this one is, to my ears, a step up from their most recent ones. The quality of the songwriting and performances really is staggeringly good on here. Everything has clearly been meticulously crafted, but unlike some similar music in the genre, there is no lack of energy and drive on this album. The whole thing powers along at a huge rate of knots throughout and you can really sense the fun that the band were having while making it. The whole thing is just one colossal feel-good rollercoaster ride and proves beyond doubt that there is a lot of life left in this genre yet – you just have to select carefully from the plethora of bands within it. On the ztrength of this, W.E.T. remain one of THE major players in the scene and this absolutely fantastic album proclaims that loud and proud!
Absolutely essential for fans of the genre and also to Rock fans in general who love a driving and melodic guitar-based sound.
Pre-order “Apex” HERE
“Apex” Tracklist:
1. Believer
2. This House Is On Fire
3. What Are We Fighting For
4. Love Conquers All
5. Where Are The Heroes Now
6. Breaking Up
7. Nowhere To Run
8. Pay Dirt
9. Pleasure & Pain
10. Stay Alive
11. Day By Day
Line Up:
Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals
Erik Mårtensson – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Robert Säll – Guitars, Keyboards
Magnus Henriksson – Guitars
Andreas Passmark – Bass
Jamie Borger – Drums
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