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Poodles, The: Perfomocracy

AOR/Melodic (Hard) Rock

3.5/5.0

Frontiers Records
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by Craig Hartranft,  04.11.2011

I've followed The Poodles career from the beginning. Consistency. What else would expect from Sweden's The Poodles on their fourth studio release Performocracy? Once more The Poodles deliver a platter that blurs distinctions between melodic hard rock and metal in the guise of AOR. Excusing the bizarre and unpronounceable album title, Performocracy is classic or, better, typical Poodles material.

The Poodles can bring basic melodic rock as on I Want It, Into the Quiet, or Vampire's Call (profiting on the whole Twilight thing?). Or they can get heavy, nearing a metal edge, as on I Believe in You, Action, and maybe, the last song, Don't Tell Me. Perhaps more familiar are Poodles songs that engage the ear with convincing melody, significant hooks, and a total arena rock feel. The first single Cuts Like a Knife (not to be confused with the Bryan Adams song) qualifies as arena rock material. So does the socially conscious Love Is All and the power of positive thinking of Your Time is Now. The Poodles stumble on the emotional navel-gazing ballad As Time is Passing.

Overall, as said before, Performocracy is classic Poodles material. Any new ground broken? Probably not. Solid melodic (hard) rock? Without doubt. Very few bands do it this well and with this creativity. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Performocracy is classic Poodles material. Any new ground broken? Probably not. Sound melodic (hard) rock? Very few do it this well and with this creativity. Recommended.

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