FLASHBACK CD REVIEWS #3 - HAREM SCAREM - OVERLOAD

[TageRyche]

This review is reposted from the defunct and gone Rock Is Life.com website from 2005. (2011 Update - The review was added to the album reviews section of the Harem Scarem website by the band/website operators.)

Harem Scarem

Overload

Frontiers Records - 2005

http://www.haremscarem.net

 

What's The 4-1-1?

The Canadian melodic rock band is back with their 10th studio recording. The album promises to bridge the gap between the past and present for the band, combining high range vocal work from Harry Hess and the guitar work of Pete Lesperance.

Genre

Melodic / Hard Rock

The Good

I really enjoyed the tight sounding musicianship on this album. Lesperance's guitar work, Barry Donaghy on bass and Creighton Doan on drums are seamless throughout the album. Lesperance has a great guitar intro on the song "Forgive & Forget", and Doane really smashes his way through each song. Harry Hess sounds in fine form here. He easily attains the higher end of his vocal register, and has the ability to deliver a rougher tone to some of the other songs as well. The opening track "Dagger", "Afterglow" and "Don't Come Easy" are the songs where he especially stands out. Those three songs along with the previously mentioned driving rocker "Forgive & Forget" and "Some Mistakes" form the core group of my own particular favorite tracks on the CD.

The Bad

There's not a lot to complain about here. I didn't really care for the ballads on the album. I've found myself haing a harder and harder time finding truly outstanding ballads that didn't make me think of Air Supply. That could just be my own personal thing.

The Verdict

I haven't really listened to the band before and I wasn't sure what to expect. When I mentioned the band to some people, I got wildly negative comments and I had read equally wild praise for the band as well. What I found out is that the band delivers a solid hard rock album tinged with a great sense of melody as well.

As far as Overload is concerned, I find this is a really great album and would have no problems recommending it to fans of the genre. It's not perfect, but it rises to the top of the heap over a lot of albums I've heard lately. I'm looking forward to checking out their past material. If its as good as this album, then I'm in for a fun time discovering the band for myself.

Did You Know?

The band changed their name from Harem Scarem to Rubber in 1999, but changed it back in 2002. Drummer Creighton Doane has a second solo album out called Learning More and More About Less and Less. Bullseye Records of Canada will release a 16-song compilation from the band called The Early Years in June. The tracks are early recordings before Harem Scarem signed with WEA Music in the early '90's.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

[Jon]

I bought Harem Scarem's "Voice Of Reason" earlier this year and really, really liked it. Liked it so much, next week I'm posting it as a L/F Album. Have  held back picking up anything else though since the review really vary.

[TageRyche]

I'll look forward to hearing it as a L/F posting.

[Scott]

My entire knowledge of this band was just learned reading this review!  I will have to wait for Jon's post to listen as well..

[RJhog (Admin)]

I actually have Human Nature by Harem Scarem.  Don't remember a lot about it, but it's very melodic with some pretty good vocals.  I know there's at least two pretty good songs.

[TageRyche]

By the way, this album finished at #4 on my 2005 Best of list.

 

[Niels (Mod)]

I will try and "highlight" this "topic", so that René might join the "discussion". René? Your second-favorite band, am I right?

[Scott]

Nice read Tage.. Of the few times this band has been discussed on here, I would say your experience matches the comments here... Wildly one way or the other but no middle ground.

[Scott]

Haha... Just realized this is an older post I forgot about ....