SANTA CRUZ (FIN): The Return Of The Kings (ALTERNATIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

If there's one thing you can't take away from Archie Cruz, apart from his undeniable vocals and guitar playing talents, it's his determination. So much so that there are few people who can keep up with him. The best example is the line-up. Apart from his name, don't try to find another participant already present on "Katharsis" because there are none. The renewal is complete with three American mates. So what can we expect from this new opus after "Katharsis", which disoriented the fans by its change of artistic direction and its (too?) great variety?

We find the sleaze component on the nervous '10 Shots' with its chanted and unstoppable chorus and on the raging 'Another Round' with its Guns'n'Roses-like flavour and one of the many gleaming solos that dot this album. On this last point, it would seem that Archie is trying to compensate for the absence of the guitar duels that were one of the band's trademarks in the early days by multiplying the neck descents. In spite of the somewhat demonstrative side of the exercise, one must admit that the man is quite stunning.

But let's come back to the different tracks that populate this opus to note that the beginning of the tracklist concentrates the most powerful and devastating pieces. It's hard to get up from the sequence of tracks, which is made up of a merciless triplet. 'Here Come The Revolution', angry and oscillating between modern metal and Pantera-like riffs, opens the hostilities before the scathing 'Take Me To America', both heavy and groovy. Finally, the single 'Under The Gun' completes the assault by combining the intensity of thrash with the sharpness of speed, while paying an undisguised tribute to Ozzy Osbourne's 'Suicide Solution'. The rest of the album clearly s in intensity but remains of high quality, especially with 'Standing My Ground', which is both glam and powerful at the same time. It's a pity that this set closes with a succession of two pop tracks, and a cover of Justin Bieber's 'Stay'. It's clear that the quartet is having fun here, as they did on the cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' three years ago, but the exercise nevertheless lacks artistic credibility.

Without regaining the success of their debut, Santa Cruz nevertheless raises their head after the worries born from their previous album. Despite a certain irregularity, "The Return Of The Kings" offers a few cluster bombs that will have an effect and allow us to envisage a bright future for this band, provided that its leader manages to stabilise his character and the line-up of his band. In the meantime, fans will find plenty to satisfy their appetite for varied and powerful metal. - Official website

SANTA CRUZ (FIN)

THE RETURN OF THE KINGS

AUTRE LABEL

ALTERNATIVE METAL