Only a year after the release of the WHITE WIDDOW debut album “White Widdow” in 2010, they were back with their sophomore album “Serenade”. Like the debut (and their other albums) it was originally released through AOR Heaven. Now, some 14 years later, Pride & Joy Music Classixx has taken the time to re-release the first three, and added a bonus track on each one. If you wish to know more about the band, I suggest you read my review of the debut album first. That way this one will make more sense to you. What I didn’t mention in the first review is that WHITE WIDDOW is very strong in the vocal department. No, they’re not housing a new Steve Perry or RJD, but they guys are really well capable in singing in the right tones and with the proper intensity. Plus, the harmonies are very sound indeed.

That does help when you play good music, and that is just what you will find on “Serenade”. Because although there is only a sort difference in the timeline between their first two albums, the difference in quality of music is quite significant. WHITE WIDDOW hasn’t changed the way they approach their music, neither have they altered what and how they are writing their songs. To me it sounds as if they have gained a lot of confidence after the release of “White Widdow”. And that shows in what I get to hear in just over 50 minutes on “Serenade”. And as the market for Melodic Rock bands has always been a hard to conquer, they obviously haven’t made it big. And that surprises me, as what WHITE WIDDOW brings to the turntable might be classed as Arena Rock, what they do just sounds really, really good.

Of course you have strong choruses, beautiful lyrics and good and proper use of instruments. I don’t know if changing the personnel that is responsible for the foundation noises of drums and bass has made a difference, but altogether I can tell you that “Serenade” is just that bit stronger than the debut album. It gels just a tad better, it has more oomph. You could even say that it all sounds just that bit more intense, or if you will heavier, than what “White Widdow” was offering. That is something that needs to continue if a band wishes to succeed. If WHITE WIDDOW does just that will become clear when you read the review for their third album “Crossfire”.