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Crashdiet: Automaton

Melodic Metal Rock

5.0/5.0

Label Facebook YouTube
Golden Robot Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.04.2022 | Released: 29.04.2022

The last we heard from Sweden's Crashdiet was 2019's Rust, dropped a season before the COVID pandemic put the music world on standby. But that release in itself was rather momentous. Crashdiet, one of the progenitors of the revival of Swedish melodic sleaze metal, hadn't had a studio album in six years. Now, cutting their absence in half, the quartet (with stable lineup) returns with a new album, Automaton, now signed with Golden Robot Records.

Crashdiet

Automaton is an apropos title for this new album. When it comes to their chosen melodic metal genre ala Eighties Sunset sleaze, Crashdiet is a proverbial machine. They know the genre inside and out thanks to half a generation of musical experience and songwriting. And so, Crashdiet can crank out sleaze songs like a widget factory. While that can have a negative connotation (all songs seemingly the same), Crashdiet remains constant, consistent, and fresh in their output. What remains the same? Rabid ripping riffs, bombastic rhythm and groove heavy in bass and drum lines, solid assertive yet melodic vocals with a fair share of harmonious gang vocals, abundant song melody and vocal harmony, catchy refrains, and pryomaniacal guitar solos. Many songs veer towards the fast and heavy like We Die Hard, Together Whatever, or No Man's Land. More heavy and steady tunes arrive with Shine On and Shell Shock. More mixed, but rocking nevertheless is Powerline which features Steel Panther's Michael Starr. Something milder, even subtle, with AOR quality is Darker Minds where Gabriel Keyes vocal harmony carries much of the tune. But the heaviness still rises, right before the stripped down guitar solo. All in all, Crashdiet's Automaton continues to establish the band of one of the best purveyors and proponents of melodic sleaze metal rock. Easily recommended. If you liked the latest from Hardcore Superstar, you might like this one even better.

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

Crashdiet's Automaton continues to establish the band of one of the best purveyors and proponents of melodic sleaze metal rock. Easily recommended. If you liked the latest from Hardcore Superstar, you might like this one even better.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]

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