RADIANT – Radiant

Radiant’s debut album Radiant is a competently executed Hard Rock album with few frills. Just over an hour in length, the fourteen-song collection from the German band will not be attractive to anyone looking for the Next Big Thing but will be appealing to those seeking for a retro sound that hearkens back to late seventies/early eighties efforts from bands like Whitesnake and Deep Purple. Singer Herbie Langhans provides Radiant with its best feature, a strong, clear voice that carries the songs through the inevitable verse – chorus -verse – chorus -verse -solo pattern. The solos and harmonies are laudable as well, and the tunes themselves catchy enough. Openers “Yes I Am”, “I’m Alive”, and “Silver Linings” all progress with a pleasing, predictable certainty; “You Rock” tries to amp up the relative “hardness” of the sound with limited effect (although the video is stellar). The remainder of the album tends to bleed together in a suitable Hard Rock vein.

Although it is not nearly as keyboard heavy, there’s something about Radiant that is reminiscent of Paul Di’Anno’s first album, Di’Anno—the bands’ denim and leather (and blasé expressions) pose on the cover is eerily similar, as is the general feel of the music, which has one foot firmly planted in the past while at the same time taking a hesitant step towards the future—but seldom finding decent footing. Still, Langhans’ voice is strong enough to redeem the material, even if the other members of Radiant weren’t as tight in their playing. Not life-changing, but steady and reliable.

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