If this is where the ex-ARCH ENEMY guitarist’s heart lies, then there’s little doubt why Amott left his brother/ six-string partner and the rest of the melodic death metal Swedes. The live/touring outfit will feature (current/past) members of NEVERMORE, SHADOWSFALL and GOD FORBID. With a variety of guitar tones, this sounds like an FM classic rock radio station. The music offers numerous 70s hard rock, oft meandering progressive (occasionally acoustic and instrumental) passages, from the opening BLUE ÖYSTER CULT (circa Spectres/Agents Of Fortune) inspired ‘Sea Is Black’ to the acoustic NEIL YOUNG vibe of ‘Back To The Jungle’ and a short, voiceless ‘Under The Surface’, which recalls the late GARY MOORE’s ‘Parisienne Walkways’. The aggressive ‘Nothing Is Nothing’ is the only one approaching the intensity of the band he left behind, while ‘Shoutout’ has something of a New Wave sound to it. Live, these tunes have a harder edge.
