Author: Sandi Sadar Šoba
Artist: Manzana
Label: Tuupa REcords Oy
Release: 2010
Duration: 37:54
Rating: 4/5
If you perked up your ears at No Doubt and loved that breezy, punky, commercialized string of predictable chords and rhythms, this time you can get excited about a homegrown – European – production. A high-octane mix of the endearing feminine vocals of the unstoppable Piritta Lumous, the playful bass of Klaus Wirzenius, the light-footed guitar excursions of Henkka Virsell and the inventive drum fills of Tomi Ylönen gives the record the stamp of a finished musical product that’s closer to pop than to metal, but you can’t argue with the musicality. Industrial Hippies serves up nine good tracks that not even No Doubt, Guano Apes or Skunk Anansie would turn down, and the end result sounds like a missing link between mainstream Korn, Roxette and Bon Jovi. The road is wide open, and the toxically contagious, playful surrender to the inspiration of the moment leaves a taste of freshness, juiciness and ticked boxes on every quality requirement. This blend of progressive pop and good riffs shifts from third gear to fourth and beyond, and the Finnish musicians keep the pedal to the metal. The sheer variety of different influences and musical contours on the palette gives the album a whiff of hit-radio genericness, which plenty of envious music snobs will happily count against the band rather than as a plus, but you can take my word for it – this is a quality product. Manzana means apple, and when you bite into their fruit of ideas and full potential, you realize they left nothing to chance on this album, no rotten, phony recipes or shortcuts to the goal of pleasing you. Industrial Hippies penetrates deep, yet the musical journey is backed by quality foreplay and all those elements that mean you won’t feel left high and dry or cheated, not even for a second, after buying it and listening.
And Manzana win you over at first sight, but this time that’s not a bad thing. Despite the commercial pull and the radio-friendly appeal, the record is anything but a faked musical orgasm, so all you have to do is sit down in front of the speakers, hit play, open your ears and your soul, and fully enjoy an adrenaline ride through the pop-metal hard rock countryside. Listening doesn’t always have to be suffering and brain destruction by profound symbolism, right? Manzana are a guarantee of easy-going enjoyment without needless waffling, and all that’s left for you is to dare to reach into this bowl of candy and risk being branded as less metal, less macho, less elitist, less of a true-believing, black-clad purist for it. The final call, my dear friends, is yours and entirely in your hands …
This review was created in collaboration between Rock Hard Slovenija and RockLine.
Line-up
– Piritta Lumous – vocals
– Henkka Virsell – guitar, programming
– Klaus Wirzenius – bass
– Tomi Ylönen – drums
Additional musicians:
– Anna Kaisa & Miina Riitijoki – backing vocals (on the track ‘Everything But You’)
Production
Henri Virsell
Track list
1. Stay Away From My Universe
2. Everything But You
3. Good Times On The Run
4. Mother Can’t Rock
5. Killer Baby
6. Evil Inside
7. Pretty Little Partner In Crime
8. Demolition Doll
9. Speed Up The Train
