Album review: BADHOVEN – Obsession

ATS Records (Release date – out now)

The last group I can think of that broke out of Austria were the Von Trappe Family Singers who went on to find success in America. With the right kind of exposure I am sure Badhoven may be able to follow in their footsteps. The band have been together in various forms since 2001 and ‘Obsession’ is their third album.

Melodic classic rock played hard and heavy is the order of the day here. The band cite Whitesnake, Saga, Rainbow and Autograph amongst their influences and it shows in the quality of songs on offer. Title track ‘Obsession’ kicks things off with a heavy, rhythmic beat giving way to melodic rock of the highest standard. Kurt C on vocals puts in a good shift with a rich and sonorous voice that ably copes with all ranges. The talented Kurt also deals with guitar duties and can shred with the best of them.

As well as rocking hard, a good melodic rock album wouldn’t be complete without a heartfelt rock ballad and here ‘ She Is So Beautiful’ fits the bill perfectly. This is a classic ‘lighters in the air’ number that will melt the heart of even the most hardened cynic. It’s when the band are rocking out though that the band are at their most effective. The bluesy ‘Time Doesn’t Matter At All’ heads down the Thin Lizzy route whilst ‘All Or Nothing’ nods in the direction of MSG. Although the band’s influences may be clear when listening through the album, they stamp their own identity on each track and are more than capable of producing quality numbers.

This is a fine album from an honest, hardworking band with a lot of talent. The hills are alive with the sound of hard rock!

***1/2

David Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)