Album review: KARELIA – Golden Decadance

Rocksector Records (Release date 15.04.13)

Karelia, so I have just discovered, is a region between Finland and Russia, it also happens to be the name of a group of French rockers with a new album on their hands. The album itself isn’t that new as it has been available for a while in their home country but it is now getting a wider release which coincides with a support slot on several dates of the forthcoming Michael Schenker tour.

The album kicks off with ‘Bill For The Ride’ which has a Rammstein edge to it but doesn’t quite hit the mark. ‘War Party’ follows in a similar vein with more industrial style metal but without the final kick required to give it an added edge. Next track ‘Animals’ has more of a heavy funk vibe similar to Korn which does work better.

Lead track from the album, ‘Vanity Label’, is a more straightforward melodic rocker which comes across well, style wise the band tick off a lot of rock genres over the course of the album with some working better than others.

On two of the tracks the guys have managed to enlist the services of the other Schenker brother, Rudolf, on guitar duties. The band supported the Scorpions on a few French dates and they hit it off leading to Rudolf guesting here. The two tracks ‘Keep Watch On Me’ and ‘The Way Across The Hills’ counterpoint each other, the first being an all out rocker whilst the latter is a slow building, lighters in the air rock ballad of Scorpions proportions.

This is a decent album but one with a rather confusing personality at times. They touch many bases and make a good fist of all, but ultimately it does fall short of greatness. Still, worth a listen if you are heading to the Schenker gigs.

***1/2

David Wilson

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)