H R H - R E V I E W S

Fuelhead
Fuelhead Plugged Records

Comments: Typically when you get a trio, you have to start thinking "artsy music." That's just the way it is. Bands like Rush set that mantra in stone decades ago. If you are a three-piece band, you have to be somewhat more cerebral than the other bands out there; you have to be more cognizant of politics, religion and socioeconomics; and your skill level is never in question as a musician because of the intricacy of your compositions.

Fuelhead breaks all of those rules, but in a steroid-infused great way.

The debut self-titled release from Fuelhead has the band admitting they set out to play downtuned heavy mainstream rock with melodic vocals. Think Godsmack with versatile vocals and no holier-than-thou attitude. It's actually a refreshing type of music.

The CD begins with the uplifting "Brand New Day." You don't really get the low riffs until the intro is over, but then, yeah, it's really damn low. Bassist and singer Andreas Henemyr is a definite strength of the band. He can get pissed off like David Draiman, yelling in key and with perfect pitch, but it's his ability to back off and deliver with soulful melodies on the choruses that set him apart. While "Brand New Day" is pretty much a metal song, the chorus is so melodic is actually sounds like the horrifically underrated band Dogpound.

You are going to probably keep going back to comparisons to Godsmack and Disturbed, but in each instance, those other bands are found wanting. Take "Shave," for instance. When they get heavy, there are tons heavier than those bands. When Henemyr does a weird sort of bark-rap, he sounds much more believable than Draiman. Again, it's the chorus that brings this one full circle, though. Not only with the lead vocals, but the talented backing vocals from guitarist Palle Hammarlund add a fullness to the overall sound as well.

One song that is a tad more relevant is "Little Ones." This is where Fuelhead shows they are not just here to play low, groovy rhythms and party like madmen. The keys add a welcome nuance to this depressing song, one about child sexual abuse. While the guitar solos are typically brief and not a focus on most of the songs, Hammarlund emotes strongly on this lengthier solo, showing they are deft musicians and songwriters.

But, it's more fun to crank compositions like "Uncle Evil," that are just balls-out sledgehammer anthems. Again, it's formulaic how they rage during the verses and pile on the melody during the choruses, but you'll also see the band stretch out as musicians as you get deeper into the album. This has the fastest guitar solo, and drummer Jimmie Svensson is allowed some lightning fills to show his wares as well.

Fuelhead has written a somewhat original album by fusing two genres that are depressingly cookie-cutter today: mainstream rock and melodic rock. They take the best of both worlds and make them their own on their debut. Definitely check this one out.

www.fuelhead.com

Track Listing:
1. Brand New Day
2. Shave
3. I See Right Through You
4. I Wanna Be Like You
5. Little Ones
6. If I Die
7. Your God Ain´t Mine
8. Riding In The Sun
9. Uncle Evil
10. You Don´t Know Me

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.7/10