The last decade saw a strange phenomenon: many acts of the past returning from their grave and some that were absent for a long time came back. Of course, some bands aren't worthy of attention, but there's always some band that one didn't know that is surprisingly amazing. And in this last category is the German quintet CZAKAN. After the reissue of their 1989's album "State of Confusion", here they are with their new album, "Unreal". Their music can be described as a melodic form of Hard Rock that's usual for German acts of the genre, where the melodic and accessible appeal of the music is filled with refined sets of arrangements and some heavy touches (pay attention on "Free Line" to check this aspect, especially on the guitars). This album brings the minds and hearts of the fans to the 70's and 80's due its appeal (this form of music is natural from those days), but in an updated form that is full of life and hooks.

Yes, these guys are that kind of band that's not only worthy of careful listening, but of asking them why in the blazes they stopped back then! It's great, indeed. "Unreal" was recorded and produced by Oliver Güttinger (the band's guitarist), with the mixing done by Tom Fein (the band's keyboardist, and an experienced live sound engineer and technician), and the mastering was done by Robin Schmidt (the same one that made the remastering of "State of Confusion"). All their efforts were really worthy, because they aligned the clean and crystalline sonority that the genre demands with an organic touch and the right level of distortion. Yes, it's really great as it is.

The entire album is very good, indeed, and will bring the fans a very good experience. And besides all the songs are really great, for a first experience on "Unreal", one can enjoy "Free Line" (that mixes weighty catchy passages with a lovely and accessible chorus, with excellent melodic backing vocals), "Getting Hungry" (what charming melodies that seduces the senses, with very good rhythmic presence of bass guitar and drums on the arrangements), "Breaking all the Rules" (this one is explicitly accessible to a broader public, with a chorus that one will sing along on the second time, with refined keyboards parts and guitars), "Livin' in a Nightmare" (a classic melodic Hard Rock song, with elegant arrangements and very good vocals), "Get Down" (a song made for parties and enjoying a very good time, with clear influences of Pop Rock traits of the past, guided by the guitars and keyboards), "Burns Like a Fire" (a heavier song due its riffs, but with that accessible flavor of Hard Rock/AOR), "Under the Gun" (another heavier moment, but filled with dynamical arrangements and with melodic hooks that are really hard to resist), "City Nights" (a climatic song with contrasts between heavier and melodic parts), and...Well, as you all can see, there's no best moments or songs to begin with. Don't be lazy, and listen to the album from its beginning to its last seconds of music, because it's not only worthy of it, but you deserve this experience, especially if you're a fan of acts as SCORPIONS, BONFIRE, TNT and others in this vein, or if you're looking for great music without caring for labels.

Well, all that's left to say is: welcome back, CZAKAN, and as "Unreal" shows, you deserve applause.