Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Eclipse
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2012
Length: 49:15
Rating: 5/5
The new album from Swedish melodic rockers Eclipse, called »Bleed And Scream«, is their first since 2008, when its critically acclaimed predecessor »Are You Ready To Rock« came out. Four years is no short stretch. And I’ll tell you straight: the wait was totally worth it! »Bleed And Scream« digs deeper into the musical direction of its predecessor. It’s actually even more convincing, even more consistent in quality, and when it comes to sheer melodic hunger, it works even more intensely. That means Eclipse have brought to life a studio document with fantastic dynamics, combining punch with fiery moods, the kind created by bombastic arranging. That element has to work at full tilt on every proper melodic rock album, in line with the studio sound trends of this genre as dictated by 2012. And »Bleed And Scream« is one of those albums that can definitely boast that kind of aura!
Eclipse are Swedish perfectionists too. The songs came together over a long stretch, and the guys filed them down for ages before the chosen versions finally took a shape their creators were happy enough with to give them a spot on the new studio album. Eleven meticulously polished tracks that nail the core of that highly tuneful melodic character, the kind that grabs you by the ears and gives you goosebumps instantly.
If you’re after comparisons, the first one is easy to find. Treat. The new Treat, with their 2010 comeback album, just with a slightly glossier production. Eclipse’s musical sermon is also touched by another elemental trademark that pops up a few times on »Bleed And Scream«: Eclipse like to dip into the roots of European power metal. If not before, the ultra-sonic Take Back The Fear will hint at it shamelessly, with the band using fast picking over the riffs (the »picking« technique) and decorating the basic guitar phrase that way in the Helloween tradition, which, as mentioned, evokes power metal vibes. The crunchiness of Pretty Maids’ production on their albums of the new millennium also comes close.
The guitar phrases bring tons of variety and a dynamic, teasing ride through many moods, born from the variety of the lead melodies, which are shaped by a dominant, authoritative, explosive, clean and polished vocal with a signature range (check out Battlegrounds, Take Back The Fear). The Swedish school, what else! Think of Treat’s Robert Ernlund or a younger Joey Tempest (Europe) and you’ll find the answer to Erik Martensson’s vocal brilliance. On top of that fantastic vocal approach, he plays all the bass in the studio and, alongside lead guitarist Magnus Henriksson, plays guitar too, so it’ll be interesting to see what lineup Eclipse take on stage for their gigs. Ideally Martensson would handle just the vocals live, because he’s a truly excellent vocalist. Let me also add that Erik Martensson is an exceptional musical talent, hypersensitive in his ideas, as well as a hyperactive workaholic. He’s highly regarded and has so far worked with acts like W.E.T, Toby Hitchcock (solo, Pride Of Lions), Giant and Jimi Jamison (solo, ex-Survivor), among others. So this is a guy who gets the point of the signature melodic form perfectly, and he and the rest of the Eclipse crew shift gears in the studio with great skill, because the production proves that Eclipse are masters of gradually building moods that peak in seductive melodies. Without a speck of pathos. That’s fully replaced by an exciting drama moment stuffed with ultra bombast, which, with the rich filling of the mid-range of harmonized melodies, conjures up AOR perfection caught in new times. Wake Me Up alone, with its magically cut chorus melody, is an extremely intense opener to this brilliant album, which will pin you down for a good 50 minutes.
Martensson can get plenty tender when he needs to, like in the punchy ballad Bitter Taste, where masterfully used synth lines carry most of the backing curtain. About To Break, the second power ballad, echoes Love Don’t Lie (House Of Lords) in the closing stretch of melody leading into the chorus.
In perfection and polish, »Bleed And Scream« can go toe-to-toe with the truly signature albums of the authentic Swedish melodic rock school released recently, like the latest from the legendary Treat (»Coup De Grace«, 2010), Work Of Art (»In Progress«, 2011) or Grand Illusion (»Prince Of Paupers«, 2011). Battlegounds is cut old-school hard rock, tied to the arranging tradition of good old Rainbow, and in the case of Battlegrounds especially to Gary Moore from his »Wild Frontier« days (listen for the venomous bombast of the chorus). The old school doesn’t shy away from a few other spots either, like the verse of the title track, which has a »Whitesnake-y« whiff before it spills into an outstanding AOR chorus melody, at which point that verse trick fades instantly. The Whitesnake-baking feeling returns in the verse of Unspoken Words, again only up to the chorus, which will spin you into a real dream of AOR-solid vocal melody, boosted by a sensual dose of harmonized backing vocals that hit full force in the drama payoff!
The album is steeped in »Malmsteen-esque« Sunday-best guitar solos of the typical Scandinavian school, reinforcing the deeper neo-classical element built into the arrangements themselves.
»Bleed And Scream« is an album that won’t make your mechanoreceptors bleed, but you’ll definitely be screaming along to it, unleashed, for quite a while. Especially if you’re a full-blooded AOR fan. It’s one of the best releases of the year in melodic rock / AOR. It’s interesting to see how younger generations of musicians serve up fully convincing products in recreating retro AOR imagery, while the dinosaurs Asia, even with their third new release, just can’t find their feet in the new times, in the sense of convincingly combining their talents with the production techniques of melodic rock in the new era. Long live the Scandinavian melodic rock revival!!!! AOR fans! I probably don’t need to repeat the obvious again: »Bleed And Scream« is an album you absolutely have to check out!
Lineup
Erik Martensson – vocals, guitar, bass
Magnus Henriksson – guitar
Johan Berlin – keyboards
Robban Bäck – drums
Production
Erik Martensson
Tracklist
01. Wake Me Up
02. Bleed & Scream
03. Ain’t Dead Yet
04. Battlegrounds
05. A Bitter Taste
06. Falling Down
07. S.O.S.
08. Take Back The Fear
09. The Unspoken Heroes
10. About To Break
11. After The End Of The World
