in Reviews

Nomen est omen

"When a decision is reached to title a release this prophetically, you’d better deliver the goods in a novel way. Luckily, this proves to be the case here. For their sixth album, Von Hertzen Brothers find the fifth gear and pummel ahead with fresh vigour and stamina."

Von_hertzen_uusiVON HERTZEN BROTHERS

New Day Rising

Spinefarm

 

When a decision is reached to title a release this prophetically, you’d better deliver the goods in a novel way. Luckily, this proves to be the case here. For their sixth album, Von Hertzen Brothers find the fifth gear and pummel ahead with fresh vigour and stamina. Proggy ornaments and trippy segments are almost entirely out and a more streamlined, song-oriented approach is in.

All artists wish for a wider audience and the recruiting of Canadian producer Garth Richardson seems to have yielded the desired result. The guitar riffs are catchy in a bare-bones way and the typically euphoric choruses have a supercharged sheen to them.

But even though New Day Rising marks a sea change for the 15-year-old quintet from Helsinki, it warms the heart to hear Mikko, Kie, Jonne, Juha Kuoppala and Mikko Kaakkuriniemi still making the odd tip of the hat to Floyd here, Queen there and Zeppelin everywhere. Remember thy roots, wherever thou may roam.

Decked in gorgeous bespoke visuals by acclaimed painter Samuli Heimonen, the ten-song-strong New Day Rising may prove to be the album that breaks the brothers globally. Now the world only needs to experience this national treasure in concert.

 

Petri Silas