Artist: Gotthard
   Title: Domino Effect
   Label: Nuclear Blast Records

If Gotthard is a name some rock fans aren't familiar with then if there is any justice in the world this latest album by the Swiss rockers should make them sit up and take notice from now on!

From the opening 'Master Of Illusion' to the final song it's just good old solid rock with the usual couple of slow burners just to level things out.

There's a slight hint of euro-rock at the beginning with the keyboards used in an almost dramatic fashion, especially on 'Gone Too Far', with Steve Lee's vocals matching up to everything the rest of the band put into it all, and you can sense an operatic mood in parts, the obvious candidate being 'Falling', a really big song in every way from the marching drum beat to the orchestration filling the sound out to perfection, a crowd silencer when played live no doubt.

Still the rockers come, 'The Cruiser (Judgement Day)' and 'Heal Me' both good examples of classy rock plucked from the early 90's, while 'Tomorrow's Just Begun' is a song Messrs Bon Jovi and Sambora would be proud of..

The funky rock-styled 'Come Alive' spices things up a bit before settling back to basics, finally coming to an end with 'Where Is Love When It's Gone', the added accordion giving the song quite a relaxing feel to the song, which for me is a fine way to finish off a really good old fashioned rock album with an up to date feel that deserves to do well.

* Review by Bob.

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