Album review: W.E.T.- Rise Up

W.E.T.- Rise Up

Frontiers Records [Release date 22.02.13]

In a genre whose natural tendency is to look backwards, few new melodic rock acts have been as eagerly anticipated as W.E.T. Their 2009 debut, fusing the talents of prolific and versatile ex Malmsteen, Talisman and Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto with rising Swedish songwriters Robert Sall from Work of Art and Eclipse’s Eric Martensson, was an instant classic, and their stock has risen even further since.

A 2011 Firefest appearance was jaw-droppingly good, and Work of Art’s second album outstanding while Martensson has established himself as melodic rock’s go-to songwriter for the new generation. So  it is fair to say that expectations were high for this sophomore release.

This is an album that goes against the stereotype of a band establishing themselves with their debut,  then taking chances and broadening their approach on the follow-up (with mixed results, hence the difficult second album syndrome). In this instance, W.E.T. – now a full band with Eclipse’s Magnus Henriksson and Robban Bäck in tow – have unashamedly gone for the most mainstream, commercial sound possible, complete with ‘who-oah’ choruses and layered backing vocals, notably on The Moment and Bad Boy,  possibly delighting those Soto fans frustrated by his relentless genre hopping.

The results are stunning, openers Walk Away (with a nod to Journey’s never Walk Away) and Learn to Live Again, on which Martensson shares vocals,  having massive hooks and choruses whose updated production values are the only clue we have not stumbled across an undiscovered  gem from the late eighties. The title track is as stirring as its title suggests and Love Heals is a lush ballad with a slight hint of Def Leppard’s Love Bites: one of only two on the album alongside Still Believe in Us, which with its piano intro and crashing chords as the chorus kicks in ticks all the power ballad boxes.

After a slight dip in quality for a couple of songs the last third is uniformly excellent. Broken Wings has a Celtic feel reminding me of Dare’s The Raindance , Shot fuses big hooks  with the modern feel of a Shinedown or Halestrom and closer Still Unbroken combined another anthemic chorus with one of the best guitar solos on the album. JSS’s vocals are strong throughout and fit the material perfectly.

And yet, and yet- given that the first album had its ambitious, grandiose moments  I cannot help feel that they have sold themselves short by less adventurously going for the lowest common denominator.

This stuff would have filled stadia in the eighties, but as it is us melodic rock lovers can look forward to appearances on either side of the pond at Melodicrock Fest 3 and Firefest.  If you are not worried about the lack of chances taken , this is a stunningly crafted template for what a melodic hard rock album can sound like for the modern age.

**** 1/2

Review by Andy Nathan


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 March 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best Of 2013 and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply