We can always count on the Swedes to deliver good old-fashioned hard/heavy metal aged in oak barrels, simple and effective, stirring and smooth. It has almost become an AOC, from Dead Lord to Horisont, Graveyard, and many others. The quality is always there, as is the pleasure. And when this revival is given a feminine touch, the orgasm is even more intense.
Take Teaser Sweet, for example, with four albums to their name since 2013, stuck in the 1980s and a singer who has it all: beauty, a powerful voice, and infectious energy. After five years of abstinence, the Jönköping quartet is back in force with “Night Stalker.” Unlike its three predecessors, which were released independently, this one is being released under the banner of High Roller Records, a well-known German label that has made old-school metal its stock in trade.
Let's bet that the support of this label will allow the Swedes to spread their good word even further, especially since, drawing inspiration from Viagra, the successor to “Monster” has all the qualities to do so. In just over thirty minutes, eight songs (plus an intro) roll by at a frenzied pace. All of them are potential anthems, starting with “Night Stalker,” whose unifying melody and chorus stick in your memory like a barnacle on a rock. It's the kind of song you find yourself humming in the shower, giving you the energy you need to face the day.
Backed by a strong rhythm section, “Deep In the Woods” is just as memorable, as is the slightly slower “Living In Sin” with its biting guitars. And what can we say about “Blue Sky,” which starts off as a ballad before picking up the tempo for an irresistible result? The science of the hit chorus is at work again with “Eat You Alive,” while “Turn Me On,” with its combative elegance, is cut from the best of 1980s heavy metal. “Killer Machine” and “Cold is The Fire” round off the album with equal skill, combining catchy hooks and good vibes.
“Night Stalker” hits the mark with a pleasant lack of pretension, carried by a powerful and charming frontwoman in the fine tradition of Doro and Lee Aaron. With this fourth album, even stronger than its predecessors, Teaser Sweet now has everything it needs to rise to the top of a nostalgic but timeless hard/heavy scene.