THE NEW ROSES: Attracted To Danger (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

While they've been churning out albums every two or three years, and their track 'Without A Trace' has earned them a fine reputation across the Atlantic as part of the soundtrack to the “Sons Of Anarchy” series, Germany's The New Roses are struggling to establish their hard-US sound in France. This is hardly surprising, given the reluctance of French FM radio stations to open up to certain forms of music that have taken over the Anglo-Saxon airwaves. Nevertheless, this is the quintet's sixth album to hit our turntables in October 2024.

For those who may have missed out on the german combo's previous releases, this one regularly pours out hard-rock as energetic as it is melodic, driven by Timmy Rough's warm, hoarse voice, on catchy compositions with often unstoppable refrains. "Attracted To Danger” is no exception to the rule, with another dozen or so nuggets over which the shadows of Cinderella (‘Natural Born Vagabond’), Nickelback (‘Four Wheels’), Bon Jovi (‘This Heart’) or Bryan Adams (‘Spirit Of A Rebel’) sometimes hover discreetly. The glorious elders of Scorpions also show their talent on the riff of a heavy, powerful 'Bring The Thunder'. But these are only slight references, and in no way detract from the assertive personality of a band that has mastered its art with talent.

All these subtle influences contribute to the variety of tracks, all of which have in common a capacity to seep into the listener's neurons and stay there for days, provoking a feeling of good humor and energy. Of particular note is the presence of Gill Montgomery, singer of The Amorettes, to share the lovely ballad 'Hold Me Up' with Timmy Rough, as well as the cover of Neil Young's 'Rockin' In The Free World'. Although respectful of the original, the latter benefits from a muscular, leaden version that will remind even the most dubious that The New Roses are not a band for midget girls, but a true hard-rock combo that doesn't sacrifice energy for melody.

A new masterstroke for the Wiesbaden band, “Attracted To Danger” further establishes The New Roses as European leaders in a style made for American highways. While it's unlikely to shake its performers out of the relative anonymity in which they are unjustly confined in our country, it would be a shame for fans of such vigorous, haunting melodies to miss out on this new collection of finely-crafted pieces. - Official website

THE NEW ROSES

ATTRACTED TO DANGER

NAPALM RECORDS

HARD ROCK