The Poodles
Metal Will Stand Tall

Lovers of hard rock with a clear melodic stamp, lend me your ears because the debut album by the Swedish band The Poodles might just be what you're looking for. Just born (2005), the Scandinavian group has already made a splash in their homeland, which explains their presence as a supporting act, alongside the seasoned Krokus, in the European tour promoting Hammerfall's latest album titled Threshold. Among the band members are singer Samuel and guitarist Norgren who have already shared experiences with Talisman, Jekyll & Hyde, and The Ring.

The product I'm reviewing (Metal Will Stand Tall) has a truly remarkable commercial potential, and this can be explained by the involvement in the songwriting phase by Holly Knight, who over the years has written songs for Aerosmith and Kiss. This does not take away from the fact that the strength with which these four musicians play really warms the heart. Melodies reminiscent of Bon Jovi, Europe, and the like, for a product composed of a dozen songs lasting ¾ minutes that strike only to fade quickly in a succession of very radio-friendly hits that seem truly endless.

Real anthems characterized by lyrics that span love and the power of heavy metal. Airy choruses that leave an impression and that are a real pleasure to sing due to the meticulously detailed crescendos designed to enhance singer Samuel's vocals. The solos are hardly ever challenging like the rhythm section's timings: our musicians are proof that you can compose genuine and catchy hard rock without ostentatious technical displays. There are really too many tracks that, taken individually, are winners. I feared that such an impressive series of "singles" might become tiresome over time, but fortunately, 40 minutes is just the right amount of time for the record. Unable to criticize the quality of the tracks, I can only say that perhaps the setlist could have offered some slightly more intense and rough tracks, but those are mere details. To get an idea of the band's quality, just listen to the title track, tacky and exaggerated to the core with a successful duet with Alcazar's singer (Tess) before a ridiculously pumped-up refrain. The catchy "Night Of Passion" will have you whistling and bouncing around the room even before you've heard it in full.

The Poodles hit you from all sides and always hit the mark. An apparently anonymous mid-tempo ("Echoes Of The Past") makes an impact with a passionate chorus followed by a solo. Slow with operatic intro and outro for the melancholic and full of pathos "Song For You" during which Samuel delivers truly magnificent vocals, showing his cleanest side. Irresistible is the crescendo of "Shadows", starting with keyboards and low-tone backing vocals that dissolve like snow in the sun, with a slight acceleration highlighted by simple but perfect guitar work. Rock 'n' roll for the powerful mid-tempo "Lie To Me" characterized by nice rhythm changes and riffs with a certain power. The sweetness continues with mid-tempo like "Rockstar" that pampers us. It's time for a cover of Ultravox (a British band from the '70s-'80s dedicated to electronic pop) entitled "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", which you might have occasionally heard on the radio. We ride to the end of the disc at full speed on the wave of keyboards and a particularly austere sound in the verses that opens into the bridge-chorus phase, as usual of great quality. "Number One" lays out a cadenced track with a rock 'n' roll spirit thanks to its voice and the great contrast between guitars and keyboards. Verses that glide like a darn well-oiled mechanism characterize another mid-tempo called "Kingdom Of Heaven". Closing, as it should be, with a slow featuring piano and voice as the absolute protagonists of the tear-jerking sweet and delicate "Crying": a winning mix.

If you like hard rock, but generally beautiful melodies, reach for your wallet because there are still albums in 2007 worth purchasing, and 'Metal Will Stand Tall' is definitely part of that category. 12 powerful tracks that, with nice guitar riffs, choruses, and wonderful crescendos at certain moments, will have you jumping out of your seat, overshadowing whatever else you were doing. Thanks to the product's short duration, the tracklist seems to be part of a single sonic path where the button to skip and interrupt the tracks will never be used. Great debut, no doubt about it!!! Hopefully, the first in a long series.

TRACKLIST

1. Echoes Of The Past
2. Metal Will Stand Tall
3. Night Of Passion
4. Song For You
5. Shadows
6. Lie To Me
7. Rockstar
8. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (Ultravox cover)
9. Don't Give Up On Love
10. Number One
11. Kingdom Of Heaven
12. Crying.