By Monk
Take a look, take a look around you (sic) because, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock deep in the Gobi desert, funk rock pioneers Extreme exploded back onto the scene earlier this year with one of the most talked about singles in what feels like forever… And the main talking point was THAT solo, which just ripped shreds (sic) out of anything we had heard in the recent past and are likely to hear in the near future. Talk about making a comeback in style? But, the inevitable question has to be, of course, can the band maintain that momentum, and retain that attention, on the rest of this, their appropriately titled sixth album?
Well, the answer is an emphatic and defiant YES, as ‘Six’ bumps and grinds its way out of the speakers with intent and declarative confidence, as ‘#Rebel’ immediately proves with combination of heavy harmonics, singalong sonics and another blistering display of guitar work from Bettencourt, coupled with a spine-tingling performance from Gary Cherone who once again demonstrates what a diverse range he possesses, from the deep rich groove of the verses to a positively stellar scream at the end.
Of course, it’s not all about how many notes Bettancourt can cram into a 90-second showcase, as he’s always displayed an ability to strip things right back, as he does on the acoustic-led ‘Small Town Beautiful’, the rhythm-led ‘The Mask’ and the glittery sci-punk infused ‘Thicker Than Blood’ with its more traditional Extreme funk boogie infusions, as exemplified further on the strutting swagger of ‘Save Me’, which not for the first time sees them referencing ’90s-era Aerosmith, especially in Cherone’s almost spitting vocal delivery.
As the lead single proved, Extreme are a band very much on the ‘Rise’ once again. A band who remain a vital and vibrant force, whose blood is definitely, and defiantly, pumping quality rock ‘n’ roll with a youthful enthusiasm reminiscent of their heyday. A superb album filled with dramatic musical twists and turns, just as we would expect, but also possessed with a clarity, coherence and natural sense of order that allows its ebbs and flows to both wash over and immerse you. A superb comeback.
- ‘Six‘ is released on 9 June.
Extreme tour in November/December:
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