POP EVIL: Versatile (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

With their fifth album, the Americans of Pop Evil confirmed their ability to offer a hard rock tinged with pop and alternative. The more commercial turn was successful and the album allowed them to continue to climb the ladder with a successful tour. The sequel is called "Versatile" and the name is no accident. Pop Evil has chosen a producer for each track with the ambition to cover a wide musical spectrum and to gather more fans.

The first track, 'Let The Chaos Reign', is a neo metal piece not far from Linkin Park with a side of Rage Against The Machine on vocals. Then the record evolves, 'Set Me Free' and 'Breathe Again' show some power but the catchy side of the song prevails. The clear vocals is pop and the choruses are made to be sung with the crowd in concert

After a correct beginning the record goes off track. Reminding Imagine Dragons, 'Work' forgets the guitars and sounds like a lambda pop/rock track that we hear in loop on the general radios. 'Raise Your Flag' is avoidable with a soulless pop rock tone not far from a Simple Plan or the worst of Nickelback. 'Inferno' and 'Human Nature' are not far from being just as unsuccessful but the return of the guitars and the effective solos allow them to get away with it.

At the end of the record and fortunately for our ears Pop Evil comes out of its lethargy. 'Worst In Me', 'Same Blood' and 'Fire Inside' find the subtle balance that we want to find in their music. The catchy side is present in particular in the pure and veiled vocals of Leigh and in very immediate melodic passages. The neo metal spirit is present with good big riffs full of energy and a muscular rhythm.

A good beginning and a good end save "Versatile" from the catastrophe. Pop Evil comes close to the real failure on several occasions. We can't blame him for wanting to evolve but he risks losing his soul by getting too close to an overly formatted Pop Metal sound. - Official website

POP EVIL

VERSATILE

AUTRE LABEL

HARD ROCK