Remember the Swedish progressive AOR/Melodic Rock/Hard Rock band Jono? Have you even heard of them before? Well, if not, you’re missing out on one Sweden’s finest bands out there. After four albums Jono has decided to call it a day, a huge blow for me. What has Jono got to do with Java Kickback then, one might ask. Well, the drummer in this three-piece is Nicka Hellenberg, Jono’s drummer and if it’s related to Jono, it’s a check-out must. The press release however described Java Kickback’s musical style as 70’s riff based Hard Rock mixed with Grunge influences. As a lover of 70’s Hard Rock but a long way from a Grunge-lover, I really didn’t know which foot to stand upon but hey, finding new bands is fun and who knows, I just might have a good time finding it here.
Opening up with the title-track, a slow, dark and heavy Classic Rock groover that tells us that this band has nothing to do what so ever with Jono musically – and why should they? The tune throws chunky riffing and a hard-hitting rhythm on us with a slight late 60’s Rock vibe which brings on a strong main melody and a direct and concise refrain. Grunge? Well, not on this track anyway. I really dig this. The latest single “Break The Chain” follows. It’s a diverse and unpredictable tune that brings on lots of 70’s vibes. The rhythm is stompy, the groove is fat, the melodies direct and the chorus hits right where it should. There’s some poppy twists in the verses and the solo comes off as slightly jazzy – a song of many colors. This is awesome.
Leading single “Flawed” starts off slow and ballad-like in the verses, very mellow and low-key but goes into a heavier and darker soundscape with a bluesy groove and a chunky rhythm with big, crunchy riffs and a juicy swing. The refrain is catchy yet not the least hit friendly as the song takes a couple of spins to stick but when it sticks, boy does it stick! Great stuff. The alternative – Grunge, if you will – side comes along in “Head Vs. Pavement”. The verse is down-beat and blackening with a haunting atmosphere while the chorus goes into a more upbeat mode with a hooky melody and a distinct punch. It’s a pretty good song yet I’m not too big on the alternative vibes.
“Eye Of The Beholder” – not a Metallica cover – is on the ballad side, slow, held-back and quite sombre. The tune brings on some blues-laden vibes with a spacey atmosphere, quite groundy on a solid beat. The chorus builds up to something more rough-edged and fat with crunchy riff, Hard Rock laden yet still on a ballad note. The refrain is stellar and remains seated in your brain. Very good. While in mid tempo “Liar” is crunchy, rowdy and flirts slightly with Metal albeit running on Blues fuel with a bumpy Classic Rock take with darker touches. The refrain is in-your-face and really striking with a memorable melody-hook. Good one.
Back on the alternative, Grunge road, “Royal Parasite” is quite ballsy and muscular with a hard-hitting groove. It’s a very mid 90’s laden track, dark and melancholic with an almost depressive glance and with a laid-back main melody. It holds a good stomp but also a laid-back atmosphere. It’s an ok song but a bit too mid 90’s alternative for my taste. “Odd Soul” comes across as a heavier take on 70’s Classic Rock. It holds an intense groove with a meaty rhythm section, rowdy guitars and a live-friendly outlook where the direct melodies are the song’s strongest focal point – and the chorus is magnificent. Good one.
“Be Silent” has some nice contrasts where on one hand it’s a heavy, hard and rough belter with clear Metal influences and a 90’s sound and on the other brings on keyboard orchestrated parts which makes for distinct dynamics. All in all, it’s punchy rocker with a fat, beefy sound with very striking melody-hooks and a chorus that hits home directly. Very good. Closing track “Cute But Killer” is a dark and mellow ballad, quite sombre with an alternative touch and slightly grunge-laden. It’s a slow burning track that really don’t stick with me even after several spins. It’s not bad but comes across as a bit forgettable.
As a whole, I really like this record. First of all, Jono it’s not. With that out of the way, what Java Kickback seems to have been concentrating on is to make a groundy record where most of the stuff sounds like one-takes, an album for the stage, an album that could be played as a trio without bringing in outside musicians or – God forbid – backing tracks. For me, it was a grower, an album that needed its fair share of spins before it stuck. If all this sounds like your bag of candy then do check it because the guys have really managed to bring out a bunch of really good songs here.
7/10
Tracklist:
1. In The Shadow Of A Papermill
2. Break The Chain
3. Flawed
4. Head Vs. Pavement
5. Eye Of The Beholder
6. Liar
7. Royal Parasite
8. Odd Soul
9. Be Silent
10. Cute But Killer
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