Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Gotthard
Label: G Records
Release: 2014
Runtime: 63:05
Rating: 4/5
Four years have passed since the tragedy in which the one-of-a-kind Steve Lee died in a traffic accident. »Firebirth«, the first album with new singer Nic Maeder, partly calmed the doubters who feared that Gotthard’s future without Lee on vocals was sealed. Gotthard pulled themselves out of the hole with a very, very decent new record.
If »Firebirth« was a touch cautious, »Bang!« brings a total breakthrough on every front of the pure-blooded hard rock playbook, melting the new Gotthard much more into the Steve Lee era than »Firebirth« did. Nic Maeder shows real dedication to the band, and his delivery sounds even more confident and completely unburdened. The man came in at full speed! Sadly, he’ll have to accept that he will always live in the shadow of the magnificent, unique vocal charisma of the inimitable Steve Lee, but even so it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Nic Maeder is exactly what Gotthard needed after the drama of 2010 to save their skin. Maeder’s vocal color and approach are very close to Steve Lee’s. This time, though, Maeder adds a lot more of his own vocal character in certain spots on the album, which comes through especially in the quiet passages that call for a flexible, soft, delicate approach. Maeder is simply an excellent vocalist.
This time Gothard have served up a particularly lively sound production. The bass lines are strongly emphasized, which the opening title track points out right away, with a beefy snare stomp chasing a marching-band pomp that has been creeping deeper and deeper into the band’s musical language since the album »Lipservice«. It may be down to the fact that, for the final mastering and mix, Gotthard called in their old buddy, the Dutchman Ronald Prent, who shaped the sound of the albums »Lipservice« and »Domino Effect«. On top of that, »Bang!« is heavy with a bluesy feel, which isn’t typical of »Firebirth«. Hence the overall impression that the new album is closer to Gothard’s Steve Lee-era work than Maeder’s first album with Gotthard, »Firebirth«. Besides the exceptional fatness of the Gibson sound on Leo Leoni’s scorching guitar phrases, the production’s liveliness is underlined by the recognizably chunky, rocky sound of the Hammond organ, a constant of the Gothard sound. This production fires up especially well in mid-tempo songs that develop their main motifs around minor-key playing, like the excellent drama-fold Red On A Sleeve, Feel What I Feel, or I Won’t Look Down! Mixed in among them are faster ones, like I Won’t Look Down, the retro, Purple-style “rustling” Get Up ‘N’ Move On, or What You Get, with a similarly rhythmic, furious character to the opener Bang! The ballads C’est La Vie and Maybe are the weakest points of the album this time, which is slightly surprising given the pedigree of a band famous for crafting the finest hard rock ballads. But that’s how it goes. Of course, the trademark playfulness found its place on the new album too. After the opening Bang!, we return once more to the naughty vixen Katie. This time in the song Jump the Gun. Cadillac, bullet holes, a hot chick with a pistol in her hand. That’s just part of the typical rock ‘n’ roll playbook (all that’s missing is an ace of spades and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s). Mr. Ticket Man, meanwhile, in its chosen riff incredibly recalls the song Sinister Mind by Jaded Heart. But the vocal line in it is so different that the association fades in an instant.
A minor quibble is just that there might be one song too many on the album. That doesn’t apply to the successful attempt at crossing orchestral elements with the band’s hard rock playbook in the closing, nearly eleven-minute Thank You. It’s an epic suite defined by many main motifs and shifts in mood. After an “innocently predictable” half-ballad first part, with Nic’s vocals at the center of the action, comes an extended section with repeated returns to the main motif, which is livened up by Leoni’s solo acrobatics! Despite all the movement, the song keeps an extraordinary musicality and builds a remarkable closing drama theater. Leoni’s guitar steps to the center, with his typical moves, while still staying subordinate to carrying the melody the whole way. The meeting of guitar and orchestral elements ignites fully. This is really a song that departs from everything Gotthard have tried in their career to date.
Gotthard keep the creative spark alive on »Bang!« and march on proudly with their heads held high. »Bang!« is an excellent successor to »Firebirth«, and along with its more condensed production it carries the feeling that Gotthard are finally healing their wounds for good after the unfortunate loss of Steve Lee, even though the shadow of that tragedy will probably follow them until the end of their career. »Bang!« is an album that again shows the extraordinary chemistry and tight bonds between the band members, confirming their vast experience, know-how and inexhaustible creativity. Once again the main role in it all was played by the band’s driving engine, Leo Leoni, who never runs out of insight when hunting for infectious guitar phrases! With »Bang!«, Gotthard have finally found the right connection with the Steve Lee era.
Lineup
Nic Maeder – vocals
Leo Leoni – guitar
Freddy Scherer – guitar
Marc Lynn – bass guitar
Hena Habegger – drums, percussion
Nicolo Fragile – keyboards
Production
Leo Leoni & Charlie Bauerfein
Track list
1. Let Me in Katie
2. Bang!
3. Get Up ‘N’ Move On
4. Feel What I Feel
5. C’est La Vie
6. Jump the Gun
7. Spread Your Wings
8. I Won’t Look Down
9. My Belief
10. Maybe
11. Red On a Sleeve
12. What You Get
13. Mr Ticket Man
14. Thank You
