FRETLESS – Damnation

FRETLESS - Damnation
  • 5.5/10
    FRETLESS - Damnation - 5.5/10
5.5/10

Summary

Pure Steel Records
Release date: August 16, 2019

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Damnation is the second release from Swedish Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band Fretless, the follow up to 2011’s Local Heros. Local Heros is a pretty apt description of the band, with most of Damnation sounding like the best Metal band from your hometown. The songs are just slightly above average, decent production, solid vocals and instrumentation, and pretty average lead guitar. The band cites Accept as an influence, and that influence is pretty evident throughout Damnation.

The current lineup of Fretless includes Patte Carlsson, vocals, guitars; Linus Andersson, guitars, backing vocals; Lasse Strand, bass, backing vocals; and Ludwig Tornemal, drums. Carlsson’s vocals are reminiscent of Udo Dirkshnider, with a touch of Bruce Dickenson showing through, although there are quite a few notes that warble off-pitch slightly. It’s not clear if both guitarists share leads, or one is the designated lead player, but it is clear that one or both subscribes to the Kirk Hammett school of lead playing. When in doubt, wah it out.

Damnation does give a nice supply of music, with 13 tracks coming in at over 53 minutes of music. The first track, however, follows suit with many recent offerings, in that it is not really a song, but some sort of intro, possibly even the band’s live show intro. It adds nothing to the album, except perhaps a time filler. It is repetitive, and uninteresting, sounding more like a movie trailer than a song. Fans of Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Accept, and of course Fretless may find something worthwhile here to enjoy.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

Author

  • Stevie Shred

    Stevie was a reviewer here at Metal Express Radio. He is currently the lead guitarist for Melodic Rock band Red Reign, based in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Red Reign toured with Tesla in 2017, and shared the stage with Dokken, FireHouse, Lita Ford, Kix, Quiet Riot, and others at various dates around the US in 2018. Stevie heard his first KISS record at the age of 6 and was immediately hooked on Rock and Roll guitar. Over the course of years his tastes evolved, graduating from KISS to Ozzy and Van Halen; and then into Hair Metal. Over time, harder and faster music drew him. Bands like Metallica, Pantera, and Anthrax led the way, and Killswitch Engage took him over the top. Stevie has a deep passion for the guitar, not only playing them, but building them as well.

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