Power of Metal.dk Review

Saint Rebel
Saint Rebel
Rating
Style: Hard Rock
Release date: 29 September, 2014
Playing time: 48:56
 


Saint Rebel - the name is a paradox. But there are five Danish men who don't care about it and name their band like this. And, to be honest, no saint has ever had a clean slate and every rebel has his/her good side. That's what the guys want to show with their music.

Now, with their second (self-titled) album, Saint Rebel are trying to live up to the success they had with their debut album "The Battle of Sinners and Saints". And to do so, they are keeping up with the style of the first album and don't risk that much new.

The songs are easy structured and short, only one song hits the five minutes mark. The melodies are solid, songs like  "Could Our Kills Endure" or "Leave a Scar" have quite catchy guitar riffs and the solo on "One and the Same" is really beautiful. I can hear influences from big hard rock and grunge bands, like Alice in Chains, Pretty Maids, Pearl Jam, sometimes even Nirvana.

The only thing disturbing me is the solo (or whatever) of "My Patient", which sounds like a woman being maltreated or something. I don't really get it.

"Now You Know" is my absolute favourite song on the album. I totally agree that this song was a number one hit on Danish iTunes charts. It's a wonderful ballad with a piano intro and a melody that sticks in your head. And girls, if a guy screams "I really love you" that passionate and desperate at you, you can be sure that he means it.

"Desperate Meassures" is the second gem. Singer Jonas Kaas' voice is softer than on the other song and there is a rap (!) part, which was really unexpected.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album didn't really get me. It's not the problem of the band as a whole, I just can't really listen to the singer in 70% of the songs. Kaas sounds like a mixture of a high pitched Lemmy Kilmister and a half dead Kurt Cobain. With the problem, that Lemmy on helium and a half dead Kurt would sound better than Kaas. Beside this fact, I think Kaas tries too, hard which gives him a hoarse voice. If Saint Rebel's music gets more heavy, he would reach his limit and he will destroy his voice sooner or later.

Nevertheless, I think Saint Rebel are on the right track. They have found their style, and if you have become interested, check them out. Maybe they haven't established the hard rock genre anew, but it is a solid album, and you're not wasting your time listening to it.

Saint Rebel - Now You Know
 


Tracklist
01. My Patient
02. Feeling Good INC.
03. Now You Know
04.
Could_Our_Kills_Endure
05.
Mr. Knife
06.
One and the Same
07.
I Give it Up
08.
The New Guy
09.
Leave A Scar
10.
Desperate Meassures
11.
Red Zone
12. Never
Label: Mighty Music
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Sophie Ruhnke
Date: 23 September, 2014
Website: www.saintrebelmusic.com