An album that has certainly created a buzz amongst melodic rock circles and comes with high expectations is the release from the project titled W.E.T. “W.E.T” stands for the bands comprised of in this project, Robert Säll, guitarist of Work of Art, Erik Martensson of Eclipse and Jeff Scott Soto, singer of Talisman. With these 3 individuals being part of the Frontiers Records family who had the vision of putting together two of the most promising Swedish songwriting talents around (Säll and Martensson) with one of the most highly regarded singers in the genre, Jeff Scott Soto.
With the 3 sharing a love for great arena rock, big melodic hooks, fiery guitars and the feel for magical melodies.....does the album deliver on the weight of expectations? Well the short answer is Y.E.S it certainly does. Right from the outset, it needs to be acknowledged that the masterminds behind this are Martensson and Sall who handle virtually all the songwriting and production duties. The influence of Soto's killer vocals throughout cant be underestimated, but essentially he brings the voice and the big name.
The trio of “Brothers In Arms”, “Invincible” and “One Love” open up the album in cracking style, with each being pure melodic bliss, featuring blistering guitar solos, drenched in keyboards and melodies and hooks that will remain in your head long hours after the songs have finished. For those familiar with Eclipse’s release “Are You Ready To Rock” from 2008, these opening three songs will have you wetting your pants....pardon the pun!
The ballads "Comes Down Like Rain" and "One Day At A Time" are the albums grandiose power ballads that are as much an example of the exceptional contemporary, production displayed throughout the album as it is an example of the sheer combined brilliance of those involved in W.E.T. "Running From The Heartache" one of the albums definite highlights draws on more of a classic AOR influence as does"My Everything" whilst "I'll Be There" continues the AOR vein albeit with a slightly heavier more European feel.
When the album takes a heavier, less melodic turn, such as on tracks like "Damage Is Done" and "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" some of the magic is lost, however maybe that's just due to the high standards the rest of the album sets?
For those who never got the opportunity to hear JSS sing with Journey or wonder what might of been if that association had of continued onto recorded material, then album closer "if I Fall" will answer those questions. In the albums press release JSS us quoted as saying said “Quite simply, this is the Journey album that could have been had I continued with them!”. Well whilst this may not apply to the album in its entirety, unquestionably this track captures Journey at it’s finest, from the Perry stylings of Soto, right through to the Schon’esque guitar solo’s. What a way to close the album!!
With the closing of another decade virtually upon us, W.E.T has certainly set a standard for modern day melodic rock. Whilst not matching the magic of H.E.A.T’s debut from last year, or Danger Danger’s “Revolve” from this year, it is certainly up there as being one of the premier melodic rock releases in recent years. For Robert Sall and Erik Martensson, the pressure is well and truly now on for what they can deliver next with their respective bands, Work Of Art and Eclipse!
