Referring to someone as being sleazy will most likely be taken as an insult and in some cases, if you’re not careful, may even result in a black eye or a fat lip. When it comes to rock ‘n roll, however, this is certainly not the case. I’m a huge fan of sleaze rock with its blues-based riffs, contagious hooks, and cocky attitudes. Give me some Faster Pussycat or Buckcherry and I’m definitely in my element. Maybe it’s the ‘80s in me, but who doesn’t like their rock and metal a little sordid and a bit unsavory?
It’s only natural that I would be beyond excited to hear that Finnish sleaze rockers Reckless Love were back after a four-year hiatus with brand new music and their fifth studio album, ‘Turborider.’ To say that the band has taken things in a different direction would be a huge understatement. The new album is not what I was expecting to hear from Reckless Love. This time out, they go back in time to the world of 80s gaming and movies with a true synth wave, almost pop-metal record. Produced by Jonas Parrkonen (Apocalyptica, Lost Society) and mastered by Svante Forsback (Rammstein, Lordi, Volbeat), ‘Turborider’ has a polished sound, full of lush synthesizers, and electronic elements, not exactly the Reckless Love that we have heard in the past.
The title track is synth-driven with Pepe’s guitars kicking in about two-thirds of the way through. ‘Outrun’ is the first single and probably the song that is most similar to the band’s previous work whereas the second single ‘Eyes of a Maniac’ is a dark albeit danceable track which is quite a switch from the band’s typical upbeat, high-energy songs. ‘Kids of the Arcade’ will have you longing for those carefree days where your only worry was seeing if anyone beat your high score on Galaga yet in a true pop-rock track. A surprise inclusion is a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Bark at the Moon’ which is different with its synth rhythms but well done. One thing for sure is lead singer Olli Herman has never sounded better and this album shows that he can handle pretty much anything thrown at him vocally.
Next is a short guitar instrumental ‘Prelude (Flight of the Cobra) which leads into ‘Like a Cobra’ which has a completely different feel from the intro. Musically, bassist Jalle Verne and drummer Hessu Max seem to be lost in the mix. At times, I’m unsure of whether I’m hearing musicians or electronic versions and that is a little disheartening. Of course, Pepe blasts in with some blistering guitars at the most unexpected moments which makes up for it a little bit. ‘For The Love of Good Times’ is a soft-rock radio friendly track before we hear “Surf’s Up, Party Time” to kick off ’89 Sparkle’ which has a real boy band feel to it. Closing out the record is the pop-synth of ‘Future Lover Boy’ and the anthemic ‘Prodigal Sons’ which is the closest thing we have to a fists in the air rocker.
‘Turborider’ definitely feels like a tale of two bands. The tracks are well-written songs and stand alone well but the whole package seems a bit of a mash up. If The Human League and Hanoi Rocks got together and had a love child, ‘Turborider’ might just be it. It’s a bit like one of the metalheads in high school dating the head cheerleader. It sounds good, but whether it will work long term is anyone’s guess.
- ‘Turborider’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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