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Taboo: Taboo

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 07.09.2022 | Released: 09.09.2022

It's difficult not to sound like a PR one-sheet, but here's the facts. Taboo is new band from Denmark featuring the talents of vocalist Christoffer Stjerne of Denmark's H.E.R.O. and guitarist Ken Hammer, a founding member of Pretty Maids. As you might expect being a Frontiers release, the album features some talent from their musical stable, notably bassist Mat Sinner. The album was mixed and mastered by the prolific Danish producer Jacob Hansen (Pretty Maids, Volbeat, et al.).

Taboo

With a spin or two, I wondered how to classify the Taboo sound. I never heard HERO, so there was no reference there. Taboo does not sound like Pretty Maids. Originally, the first thing that caught my attention was the use of synths and minor orchestration. Sometimes the latter was a tad quirky, sounding more pop-like; then there was the songs with lingering piano lines within (like Into The Sun among others). The latter, the orchestration, seemed more accentual or ambient. The result was some significant density to the tunes. Yet, the arrangements have a strong hard rock foundation, namely assertive riffs and a substantial rhythm section for groove and rock gallop. Strangely, unlike classic rock, guitar solos seemed intermittent or subdued. So much so, even after several listens, I think I missed them. Others were satisfying like the one within Daydream, a symphonic ballad.

When I put all these things together, I came to a confusing conclusion: Taboo's music sounds like melodic hard rock which ebbs and flows between rock, pop, and perhaps maybe some thin industrial angles. But there's also some additional, notable aspects to their songs: clean melodic vocals and vocal harmony, recognizable bass lines and, simply, plenty of songwriting creativity. Ergo, Taboo's debut album offers the listener some interesting melodic hard rock hybrid which both challenges and entertains. 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.

Taboo's debut album offers the listener some interesting melodic hard rock hybrid which both challenges and entertains. 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 ]

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