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Hypnos: The GBG Sessions

(Melodic) Heavy Rock

4.0/5.0

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The Sign Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.04.2018

With two studio albums under their belts, The GBG Sessions marks a transition for Sweden's Hypnos by introducing new singer Linus Johansson from the band Trial. The GBG referring to their hometown of Gothenburg, the band is calling the album a live session, but recorded in the studio.

Hypnos

If you've never heard Hypnos before, their music is simple to explain. Hypnos offers very guitar-centered heavy rock overflowing with generous riffs and blistering solos. Then they add stylistic nuances from blues to heavy metal to toe-tapping boogie. This album features two new songs Ain't No Fool and Looking Out, both released as singles and will appear on a forthcoming fourth album this Fall. Like most songs here, with Ain't No Fool has brisk pacing, an abundance sharp riffs abundant and a seemingly endless amouunt of guitar solos. Looking Out is crazy fast, and short, like the speed punk of a Ramones song, but with some psychedelic guitar work.

Alternatively, Nightmares is moderate in pacing with a few flurries of speed, but also a bit darker in character, and then driven by a blues guitar motif. Some of that blues feeling can be found within the lengthy songs 1800 and Hands Of Evil, both of which are exercises in guitar excessiveness (in the best sense). Being fine Swedes that they are, Hypnos cover an ABBA hit, Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie. But Hypnos replaces the symphonic lines and the dance groove with slick guitar lines and a rock rumble. As for the new vocalist, Johansson is a good fit. The timbre of his voice gells quite nicely with the Hypnos sound. All in all, especially as an introduction to the band, Hypnos' The GBG Sessions is a fine album of guitar-centered melodic heavy rock. Recommended.

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All in all, especially as an introduction to the band, Hypnos' The GBG Sessions is a fine album of guitar-centered melodic heavy rock. Recommended.

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Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]