After experiencing “creative differences” as part of Thundermother, Guernica Mancini, Emlee Johansson and Mona Lindgren left and formed The Gems – a three piece Rock band, and it is fair to say that this Swedish trio’s debut Phoenix (Napalm Records) is in similar territory to their previous vehicle: sixteen tracks of no frills Classic Rock built on chunky riffs and shoutalong choruses.
After a folky introduction (“Aurora- Interlude”), the stomping rock ‘n’ roll of “Queens” kicks things off properly, with bouncy guitar licks and a simple yet hummable chorus. The crunchy guitars and earworm chorus of “Send Me To The Wolves” is the next track and straight between the eyes, no nonsense Rock with a whiff of the seventies is the order of the day – mixing Joan Jett attitude, AC/DC chords and Halestorm hooks.
Whilst it certainly is not original, it is enjoyable, as the bubbly “Domino” with its perky solo and marching beat demonstrates. As does the fiery, Judas Priest-like assault of “Silver Tongue” and the foot to the floor “Force of Nature” with its runaway train rhythm and NWOBHM guitars.
An ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ ethos runs through the record, as the Swedish trio stick to this no frills Rock throughout. This is commendable but the overfamiliarity of the genre and some filler means that the songs blur into one another.
Numbers like the forceful “PSYCHO” and the glammy “Kiss It Goodbye” are easy to like but they do not live long in the memory. The Gems do, though, break up the old school riff-athon with a few short interludes, which act as nice instrumental segueways to the next track – the melodramatic “Maria’s Song” leads you into the pleasant ballad “Ease Your Pain”.
Fans of fast-paced, old school rock ‘n’ roll with plenty of riffs, guitar solos and velcro like choruses are well catered for here. The Gems debut does all this well and adds a modern sheen to it, even if there is a sense of familiarity to proceedings.
Buy the album here:
https://thegemssweden.bandcamp.com/album/phoenix
7 / 10
THOMAS THROWER