Ever since 2015 when Degreed released their third album Dead But Not Forgotten the band has kept on releasing solid albums one after the other, this new album being their seventh since the debut in 2011. Speaking of the debut, I must admit that I don’t find the two first albums Life, Love, Loss and We Don’t Belong (2013) all that strong. Not bad albums at all but the difference between those albums quality wise and the following records are almost miles apart. The band’s take on AOR with heavier ingredients, yes even Metal at times, is today of impressively high quality and I can’t help but to feel that Degreed deserves to be way bigger than they are. If only fans of the melodic Hard Rock genre would take some time and just check the band out.
Degreed opens the new album with the first single “Big Plans”, a fast and heavy rocker, edgy and raunchy with a touch of Metal where the riffage and punchy beats looks back at 80’s Heavy Metal. It’s a powerful number yet with the band’s trademark Melodic Rock smelling melodies and a massive chorus with a stand-out hook. This is a hit in my book. Brilliant. “Who Are You (To Say)” is a ballsy and tough rocker that brings along a classic 80’s Hard Rock riff with a Judas Priest outlook on a straight ahead and in-your-face rhythm. At the same time it’s very hook laden, big on smooth melodies and a pretty colorful soundscape with a chorus that strikes hard. Terrific.
“The Way Of The World” is a hard-hitting powerhouse, charged up and punchy with a live-friendly uptempo rhythm and a pretty heavy beat. It’s still melodic with lots of pop-hooks where parts of the song reminds me slightly of Harem Scarem. The heaviness contrasts brilliantly with the distinct and catchy melodies and the big chorus is a real knock-out. Great. The AOR laden “This Is Love” is really a lighter pop-song in a Rock disguise. It goes off on a solid beat and a chunky rhythm structure but also very slick with a deep dive into the 80’s complete with 80’s synths and electronic drums. It’s a bit softer in the verses but takes a bigger path in the ridiculously catchy chorus. This could actually have been a soundtrack to a movie like Top Gun back in the day.
The single “Ride Along” goes into sleazier territories with some rough-edged guitars with a cracking riff and a style reminiscent of the melodic Hard Rock/Arena Rock from the early 90’s. It’s a driving tune with a juicy groove and melody-hooks to die for and the massive chorus is Melodic Rock heaven where a slice of Def Leppard has been inserted for good measure. Fantastic. More poppiness comes with the smooth yet driven, mid 80’s smelling “Free Again”. It’s a party inviting and fun-loving number carried by a chunky beat and a fat guitar but also lots of 80’s sounding keyboards and a pop-hooky refrain that hits right where it should. Very good.
“Resist The Urge” is a foot-stomping groover with a raunchier structure and a live-friendly outlook. It’s an upbeat melodic Hard Rock stomper with crunchy verses and a striking chorus with a distinct catchiness, very easy to spot as a Degreed number. I dig this. “Don’t Be A Stranger” is a stripped down and fine-tuned piano ballad that starts out only with vocals and a piano-sounding keyboard. The song takes on a bigger approach in a larger and more bombastic soundscape with some orchestrated keyboards and synth strings and when the chorus comes along we’re getting a higher level of heaviness which turns the song into a huge power ballad, very memorable and catchy but without and sugar or cheese. Terrific.
Upbeat and on a solid rhythm yet going on a semi-ballad route “A Safe Place” brings on some smooth, radio-friendly melodies with lots of big pop-hooks but the guitar is still at the frontline backed up by some fine tuned keyboards. The main melody is strong, the main riff is chunky and the chorus is distinct and infectious. Very good. On a heavier note the darker laden “No One” goes for a punchy groove in the verses on a spicy Hard Rock ground but takes some pop-flirting melodies in the pre-chorus. The band throws in some metal-tinged riffage as well which makes for a contrasting dynamic and while the chorus hardly is hit-searching it’s damn catchy anyway. Awesome tune.
“For You” takes a turn towards 70’s Classic Rock with its Led Zeppelin embracing riffage and the rough-edged groove that kicks off the verses. The pre-chorus smoothen things out with its slicker melodies but keeps the raunchy Hard Rock vibes and the chorus takes the song into Arena Rock territory with its massive catchiness. That being said, it’s pretty heavy, crunchy Hard Rock belter all the way through and it’s a damn good one. The closing track “Pressure” starts off with a softer, AOR-ish verses with a slick and quite glossy pop touch but the chorus turns around completely and goes on a heavier path on a faster pace yet with some Melodic Rock hooks. The solo part breaks away into Metal before the tune comes back to its origins. Very good indeed.
As a whole, this album is neither better or worse than the last few albums Degreed has released and that is a good thing because this is a band that only releases solid albums with a high lowest level. Also, While dwelling in the Melodic Rock and sometimes AOR genre the band is never cheesy or too saccharine because they throw in influences from both classic Hard Rock and Metal which puts their music in a heavier direction than most of the bands in said genres. Add to the fact that Degreed sport their own sound and identity and we have a winning formula. For the already converted this album is a no-brainer but there are too few of those. It’s time for this band’s big break now so if you haven’t lent them an ear it’s time to do so.
8/10
More Degreed reviews:
Dead But Not Forgotten
Degreed
Lost Generation
Are You Ready
Tracklist:
1. Big Plans
2. Who Are You (To Say)
3. The Way Of The World
4. This Is Love
5. Ride Along
6. Free Again
7. Resist The Urge
8. Don’t Be A Stranger
9. A Safe Place
10. No One
11. For You
12. Pressure
CD & Festival reviews 