By DJ Monk
German power trio Formosa describe their style of hard rock as “music in a loincloth” – something not only connected with their stripped back style but also, apparently, due to their predilection for performing in the nude! To date, they have released two albums – with the rather inane titles of ‘Tight & Sexy’ and ‘Sorry For Being Sexy’, but are now entering the ‘Danger Zone’ of third album territory with their first release for the Metalville label.
The result is ten tracks of solid, old school, Eighties-style hard rock with no airs or graces: a sound which the trio apparently set out to emulate, so in that regard they have ticked all of the required boxes. There is nothing flash or fancy with what is going on, just a collection of hard rockin’ metal edged party anthems that do exactly what they set out to do, and that is to entertain the listener for the 40 minutes or so for which the album lasts.
It does have some flaws, especially in terms of the production, on the first two songs at least: on opener ‘Dynamite’ the sound levels mysteriously double for the choruses before fading out again, while there is a similar effect on the guitar parts during ‘Masquerade’, which makes it a rather disconcerting listen and it makes you want to check if there is something technically wrong with your stereo.
There are some neat touches, which make for a more attractive listening experience: ‘Leader Of The Pack’ for example, has some neat tempo changes, while ‘Manic Lover’, while not pulling any surprises, is a present way to wind things down a notch at the end of the album’s first half and should cement itself as a live favourite (when the gig circuit gigs up and running again after the chaos currently gripping the Überverse). The standout track, however, is the lead single, ‘Sold My Soul’, which starts off with a nice bluesy riff before building into an Airbourne-esque stomper, guaranteed to get you feet tapping and your head nodding along to its infectious (sorry) beat – and there are some neat touches of the much under-used gong in the background. And is that a cowbell I hear on ‘Rakija Fever’ and ‘We Go Out Tonight’? Yes, indeed it is… well, that’ll do for me!
‘Danger Zone’ is not a bad album. It’s not a ground-breaking one, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a pleasant listen and a relatively harmless way of passing the time, especially in the current circumstances when it looks like our only escape is going to be cranking up the death decks and annoying the fuck outta the neighbours.
- ‘Danger Zone’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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