REVIEW : EXTREME, SIX (EAR MUSIC , Release Date : June 9, 2023)

It's been 15 years since Boston based melodic funk hard rockers EXTREME released "Saudades De Rock". Extreme is a band that never followed 'safe' paths! They had the image, the attitude of the classic hair metal band but regarding their sound they were always trying to rich it with many elements. 

Yerbadiablo & Synful Ira, new songs online

On logic(il)logic Records's YouTube Channel is possible to listen to a new song by Yerbadiablo (“Brick Lane” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkoQgtRyYAY&feature=youtu.be), and one by Synful Ira (“New Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfzNAqcIas). “Brick Lane” is taken from Yerbadiablo's debut album “Jester In Brick Lane”; “New Love” from Synful Ira's “Between Hope And Fear”, both recently published by the italian label and distributed by Andromeda Dischi.

ELECTRIC BOYS / AND THEM BOYS DONE SWANG (2011)

Electric Boys were formed as a duo in 1988 in Stockholm, Sweden by Conny Bloom (guitar and vocals) and Andy Christell (bass) and got a hit song right away with the track "All Lips N' Hips" after which the members Franco Santunione (guitar) and Niclas Sigevall (drums) were recruited. Their sound was a mix of groove, Beatles-phsychedelia and heavy guitar riffs. In 1989, they released their critically aclaimed debut "Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride". In 1992, the follow-up album "Groovus Maximus" was released. The album was recorded in the legendary “Beatles studio” Abbey Road in London and the band continued touring mainly in the U.S.A., Great Britain and Sweden. In 1994, the album "Freewheelin’' was released and the members decided to dissolve the band soon after with a farewell concert in their hometown Stockholm.

EXTREME / Saudades De Rock (2008)

Extreme is one of my all time favourite bands. Their first two albums are superb pieces of funky hair metal stuff. "III sides to every story" was a bit 'softer' but, overall, a very good release with some excellent tracks in it. With "Waitin' For The Punchline" in 1995, the band lost the majority of their fans. It was an album far away from their huge sound of their previous three works. A couple of really good tracks didn't save the final result.

After thirteen years, Extreme came back with their brand new album which was called 'Saudades De Rock'. I have to say that it was a really great pleasure to have a new album from my all time funk metal 'heroes'. But the final result didn't pleased me!! Ok, the fact is that I didn't expect a new 'Pornograffitti' but, at least, I wanted something in the vain of their very good third album. The truth is that "Saudades De Rock" is way better than "Waiting For The Punchline" !!!

It has some good 'old' time elements but something is missing from the final result. Maybe the lack of some catchy choruses? By the way, 'Saudades De Rock' has some excellent hard Rock N' Roll tracks with memorable chorus lines, very good guitar work from Nuno Bettencourt but, also, the necessary ballads and mid-tempos. Overall, "Saudades De Rock" was not the comeback album I had been expecting from Extreme. It's a good album with some very good songs, some average songs but, also, a couple of fillers too! For fans of Extreme, like me, it's a must to add this one to your collection.
Heavy Paradise's Rating : 7 / 10

Tracklist

1. Star 2. Comfortably Dumb, 3. Learn To Love, 4. Take Us Alive, 5. Run, 6. Last Hour, 7. Flower Man, 8. King Of The Ladies, 9. Ghost, 10. Slide, 11. Interface, 12. Sunrise, 13. Peace (saudade), 14. Americocaine (demo 1985)