Artist: W.E.T. 
   Title: W.E.T.
   Label: Frontiers Records

The phrase “what’s in a name’ seems more significant today after just one listen to the new self titled W.E.T album.  Who are this band?  Well the name says it all with the W representing Robert Säll, guitarist of Work of Art, the E representing Erik Martensson of Eclipse and finally the T of Jeff Scott Soto, singer of Talisman, together they are W.E.T. and together they have put together one of the finest releases of the year in the world of Melodic Hard Rock.

With the added talents of Robban Back - drums, Magnus Henriksson - lead guitar on 'Brothers In Arms', 'One Day At A Time', 'I’ll Be There', 'Comes Down Like Rain', 'Just Go' and 'If I Fall'.  This one on paper looks like it’s going to be a great album and on CD it goes beyond great and steps into the realms of excellent.

From the opener ‘Invincible’ Soto makes his mark on the album with his customary fine vocals.  A real top notch rocker to open the album was always the way to go and the trio have got it right from the off.  Some say this is the Journey album that should have been, but for me Schon and Co couldn’t have written an album so suited to Soto’s vocals, it takes songwriters familiar with the underground Melodic Rock scene to see the full potential of Soto.  The great rock continues with ‘One Love’, again a great slice of guitar fuelled modern Hard Rock that is just magnificent and Säll literally has his hooks in you from the off.  Great licks and again Soto does what Soto does best and provides a great vocal.

One of my favourite tracks off this great album is ‘Brothers In Arms’, not as hard hitting as the opening two tracks but still plenty off oomph to keep those of us into the rockier side of things happy.

There is an ease of pace with the gentle tones of ‘Come Down Like Rain’, this is where Soto comes into his own, as well as delivering power he can ease it down and pluck at the heart strings on the ballads like no other and this is where he really shows why he is one of the favourite vocalists of many in the genre both fans and musicians alike.

It's back to the mid tempo rockers with ‘Running From The Heartache’ before turning it up a notch or two with the stunning ‘I’ll Be There’ and the equally superb ‘Damage Is Done’.

It's rocking all the way with my favourite track off the album ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’.  Journey this is definitely not, it's hard, punchy and has groove that  will shake your very soul.  A real touch of class.

It’s back to the slower more standard Melodic Rock tones with ‘One Day At A Time’, but still the class is still there in bunches.  A true touch of class from the songwriters here melt away harmonies from Soto blended with subtle guitars from Säll and Henriksson on this one.

There’s more than a touch of old school Whitesnake on the opening bars of ‘Just Go’ before Soto takes over and the track develops into a whole new beast another great rocker.  As is the fantastic ‘My Everything’, this one is pure Melodic Rock at its finest great rhythms combined with Soto’s superb vocals.

The album closes is style with the harmonious tones of ‘If I Fall’, again superb soar away guitars topped by heavenly vocal.  A track that ends what is a great album and unless something else comes my way by the end of October will surely be my album of the month for November.  

Tracklisting:

01. Invincible
02. One Love 
03. Brothers In Arms
04. Come Down Like Rain
05. Running From The Heartache
06. I'll Be There
07. Damage Is Done 
08. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
09.One Day At A Time
10. Just Go
11. My Everything
12. If I Fall 

 

                   

 

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