Reach – ‘The Promise Of A Life’

(Icons Creating Evil Art)

You know Swedish melodic hard rockers Reach, right? Yeah of course you do they have been knocking around for almost a decade keeping us MHR fans entertained. Well forget everything you know and brace yourself because ‘The Promise Of A Life’ is a dramatically different beat to what you’re used to!

Reach have really flipped the script with this album, they are no longer a melodic hard rock band, while their song writing is experimental and expansive, I would say pop rock is a more accurate definition of their new sound. The band are still highly melodic but they embrace a more alt rock sound with the songs been extremely varied in their delivery and structure. There is a strong electronic vibe to the song writing which constantly takes me to thinking of minor Muse similarities. They retain those anthemic choruses and huge melodies but it’s delivered in a very different and contemporary fashion. To be honest MHR traditionalists will hate it but those with more eclectic ears I genuinely feel will love what Reach have come up with. It’s very brave of them to come out with such a dramatically different sounding album a big gamble but I think given how strong the album is it’s a gamble that should pay off!

I wasn’t sure what to make of ‘The Promise of a Life’ initially it’s very off beat and occasionally weird and I was genuinely shocked at how little these songs resemble what had come before them. Bizarrely though after the shock wore off, I have to say this could quite possibly be the greatest thing they have ever done.

I’m really impressed with vocalist Ludvig Turner’s performances on here, he really pushes himself and mixes up his style and approach on every single song!

You must approach this album with an open mind, no matter how awesome I feel it is, I do fear it will not appease established fans. The sound of ‘The Promise of a Life’ does nod to and have similarities to the song writing, experimentation and approach of Muse and Queen and much like those two hugely successful bands they split opinion divisively. Just because something may be repulsive to one person doesn’t mean another may not find it delectable, I would highly recommend Rock fans, especially those with a taste for electronica, to 100% check this album out and indulge in some Reach 2.0!

8/10

Essential Track - 'The Law'

Review by Woody