I had a great time reading again - after a couple of years - the band's bio at their official website. Humor is a strong weapon and DOGPOUND had won me over in this matter. The fact that they are hailing from Sweden became a second 'plus'. What was left? Music itself. Even if the cover artwork 'lowered' my hunger a little bit, III is eventually a good album in the - general - Hard Rock field. Hmmm...really good, I should note down. And with a rather 'positive' attitude!
The predecessor, A Night In The Gutter (2005), had scored good success by featuring some captivating and intelligent Hard Rock music, both figuring out old-school and new-school influence. Don't think the band got its piece of the cake, but this year's III will definitely give another chance to a band, further helped a lot by some - it's not a lie - perfect production. The great controversy in a usual album the sound may be, still in DOGPOUND your ear will receive some real hardrockin' aura throughout  14(!) songs carefully written and more carefully recorded. Plus: if black humor is your cup of tee then DOGPOUND is for you, no questions asked.
In III the Swedish quartet has developed a more 'heavy' profile, bringing to mind a more intense version of GOTTHARD, KING'S X, 80s DEEP PURPLE and - even - 'pomp' rock bands like e.g. SAGA. The guitars are more solid and razorous while the bass lines explode like thunder and the drum sessions should have brought earthquake in the studio. Yes (again) the music is loud! 4/4 tempo grooves reveal a certain doze of hunger for live activities plus some sentimental writing should be loved by followers of GOTTHARD. The truth is - in addition - that Andersson's vocals are well-worked as if he was lucky enough to enjoy full soul tranquility in order to give fair amount of singing in each track.
As for the songwriting itself: you'll hear a mix of post-Rock, European 'hair' Metal and a certain doze of 'blackened' Rock (as if BLACK SABBATH had inked deal with Lion Music!). Maybe this is the 'black humor' case fitting, as pre-mentioned. Well, maybe 14 tracks is a lot for an album seeking for airplay and night club business but - on the other hand - quality in music did not ever killed reputation (even if not being helpful at all, at times).
The good thing for DOGPOUND stands as their uniqueness in presenting a non-decadent profile of Hard Rock music to the masses(?). Ahhh...you like bands' spirit like e.g. HAREM SCAREM? Color this outline in a not-that-melodic palette and taste some inspiring music the DOGPOUND way. 'Portion' should be the quartet's favorite word...