GOTTHARD „Lipservice”

Music: Hard Rock
Website: www.gotthard.com
Duration: 53.07 (14 songs)
Cool songs: All We Are, Dream On, I Wonder, I’m Alive

This album has all the hallmarks of being a potentially great hard rock album. From their name, the title, the slick artwork to the five leather clad dudes that grace the back cover, Swiss band Gotthard (with one inverted ‘T’) have the whole image thing sorted. With an impressive eight full lengths under their belt, there is no doubt that these guys have put in the hard yards. And with a new distribution deal with Nuclear Blast, some long awaited global exposure is now at their fingertips. Certainly, the straight up, no frills melodic hard rock fan who has only ever read about these guys will find much to like about ‘Lipservice’. Unfortunately, as far as pushing the ‘great’ tag I alluded to at the top of this review; well, it just isn’t in the equation.

Fans of the melodic hard rock scene have been touting Gotthard’s return to a heavier direction on ‘Lipservice’. If that is the case then I for one am glad I missed their previous few albums, particularly since the driving ‘G’ album of 1996. According to those with a stronger connection to Gotthard than yours truly, ‘LS’ is less polished in the production and sees the band opt for a more up tempo rockier set of tracks throughout. It’s hard to argue with that assessment – and as I listen to ‘LS’ there is (save for some truly horrible moments) a nice driving rhythm attached to it. As for the ‘heavier’ direction; man, did I miss something? When I think of great modern melodic hard rock I think Pink Cream 69! This new GH disc has all the balls and heaviness of a Wiggles CD.

There is a lack of fire and energy on this disc folks. Sure, it’s a straight up, stripped down hard rock album, but it just doesn’t ROCK hard enough!! To my mind, Gotthard are caught between trying to fit somewhere between mid period ‘Def Leppard’ (Hysteria and beyond), Stadium Rock ‘Bon Jovi’ and the sappy ballad path of ‘Bryan Adams’. Granted ‘LS’ is devoid of the over-produced sound that plagued these artists (particularly Def Leppard), but whereas these three acts actually HAD (they haven’t now) some song writing smarts to carry themselves, Gotthard just haven’t got the goods. Everything on this album is a rehash of all good melodic hard rock that has gone before them (name any 70’s/80’s rock band – Aerosmith/Van Halen et.al) without ever making any embellishments. There’s simply no depth or imagination. I’d be happy with the lack of originality if the songs were good, but aside from the strong driving opener ‘All We Are’ and the darker ‘I Wonder’ and maybe ‘I’m Alive’ the rest is mediocre at best. The less said about the moist undie inducing ballads, the better. The blatant Bryan Adams/Joe Elliot phrasing of frontman ‘Steve Lee’ makes them even more excruciating.

Lipservice will obviously please their fan base. Certainly form what I’ve witnessed on the boards, most are extremely happy with the return to the (supposed) harder edge sound of their earlier albums. But really, when you stack this up against the best of the hard rock scene, this album lacks the hooks and song writing to make it any more than a pleasant, but albeit middle of the road affair. I was expecting a hell of a lot more from this one. Great name, great title. Great album? Not even close.

note: 5.0/10

Tracklist

1. All We Are
2. Dream On
3. Lift U Up
4. Everything I Want
5. Cupid Arrow
6. I Wonder
7. I'm Alive
8. I've Seen an Angel Cry
9. Stay For the Night
10. Anytime Anywhere
11. Said and Done
12. The Other Side of Me
13. Nothing Left At All
14. And Then Goodbye

Line-up

Steve Lee
Leo Leoni
Marc Lynn
Hena Habegger
Freddy Scherer