For all fans of 'Gotthard', the guitarist 'Leo Leoni' is inseparable from the Swiss formation and Leo also has another project, 'CoreLeoni'. Initially, he took drummer 'Hena Habegger' with him and the first album 'I' of 2018 was devoted to songs set aside by 'Gotthard' on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Swiss group. Four years later, exit 'Hena Habegger' who also left 'Gotthard' and replaced by 'Alex Motta' and, after their second album 'II', here is the last baby released in May 2022 and which, as expected, is number 3. Another major change, 'Ronnie Romero' ('Lord Of Black', 'Destinia', 'Sunstorm', 'The Ferrymen') who was part of the adventure of the first two albums, left the ship and was replaced by the Albanian 'Eugent Bushpepa'. But, despite all these changes, 'Leo Leonie' and his troupe continue in the momentum of previous albums with strong hard rock but this time with original compositions (except the last 3 titles), certainly to induct the new line up and make it a formation really apart from 'Gotthard'. Admittedly, it's very similar but, from the first listen, we are taken by a whirlwind of energetic compositions to take your head off by dint of headbanging: to take a few examples, I will cite the titles that have been the subject of a video on youtube: to urge us to resume a normal life after confinement 'Let Life Begin Tonight' opens the proceedings with an energetic and effective first title followed by a 'Purple Dynamite' which, as the name suggests, is pure dynamite, then, 'Like It Or Not' is not to be outdone with a chorus that will certainly be screamed in concert. In the same genre, we can cite 'Guilty Under Pressure' and 'Sick & Tired' and their devastating riffs or even the effective 'Would You Love Me' with a little air of AC/DC' and when the atmosphere wants more moderate, 'Leo Leoni' has this talent to lay us magnificent ballads which are two in number on this album, 'Sometimes' and 'Deep In My Soul'. And, we can't miss the 3 covers at the end of the album, first of all an energetic 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' by the 'Stones' and the two titles of 'Gotthard', the ballad 'Say Goodbye' and 'Good Time Lover' which ends on a frenzied note this very beautiful album.
In summary, 'Leo Leoni', accompanied by a very talented new line up, gives us an excellent album and this third offering from the Swiss should raise the sound level among a lot of 'Gotthard' fans and the beyond because everything is done to have a wonderful time listening to this energetic, efficient, and somehow timeless hard rock... | |
