The eyeliner-ed quartet GREY ATTACK could easily be in their late forties, and sure play music that reflects it. Armed with nostalgia, the German foundation expresses their souvenirs with a 90s, soft Pop Rock. While their notoriety isn't quite bad at all, the band should maybe rethink the overall product they are selling. Fine to be labeled as Rock, but far from the metal scene, the music is extremely accessible, polished from the sound to the partitions. The eponymous record, in its entirety, is a decent, light listen. It may not quite be on the edge of boring, but it seems to be predictable through it's repetitive structures and frequently used signature styles. If there had to be one thing that could save the record alone, it would have to be the bands talent for melody - hands down. The strong melodies, though simple, give a certain appeal to the music... Delicate, honeyed, the sharp guitars cry a sweet, sweet anthem.

Simplicity being their main aspect in mind, the guys from GREY ATTACK opted for a light Pop Rock sound. Commercial through it's repetitiveness and sweet because of its round, bright sound, it's the perfect record for a hot, summer day. The accessible classic rock tone jumbled to the lightheaded verse/chorus structure leave place to a nice, felt melody while the unique, raucous voice leads. At the forefront of it all, the signing sometimes feels artificial (''Take me Home'', as example) for its perfect, touched-up-in-studio vibrancy, but the general voice still captures clear emotions. As the overall music may be elementary and rather smooth, some more developed elements stand out: the roundness in the tone, the one-note-at-a-time riffs, the punched out rhythms... Really not your typical, straight forward, in-your-face metal. See it as a simple, classic Rock.

Through cheesy lyrics and song titles, the formation goes on about love, friendship, and death, on a mid-tempo riff - a partition style commonly encountered in popular genres. Founded with an eight note bass riff, the whammy guitar solos engage into most of the songs closure, as the drum punches, tempo pauses and rudimentary guitar scales are expressed. More than worked up, the overall product is decent and fluid... Easy. The industrialized sound, giving into popular and manufactured music, lacks of an actual spirit. The passion, the underground uniqueness us metal heads love is absent. For it still has a light, good vibe, the soul and core are cruelly missing. Every song is a danceable, nice hit; active, fun, but with no true gripping profoundness.

The sense for melody is very present throughout GREY ATTACK's record, but the capacity to reinvent themselves, from tune to tune, is nonexistent. Though there seems to be no possible link with the metal scene, some inspirations do reflect through the quartets music. Now I wouldn't call these milestone influences in their career, but the record sure does exude a similar vibe as the one MEGADETH's ''Cryptic Writings'' has. Now for you non-Thrash fans, let me explain: when the band hit the edge of their brutal masterminds, they aimed for a popular, silky, bouncy record - And, yes, it broke our heart with its cheesy, easy hits, thanks for asking. Now, from where I'm sitting, GREY ATTACK seems to exude this very same light spirit, candid and simple. With computer arrangements and a soft string tone, the record radiates a strange, unidentifiable stamp. Is it somewhere between rock, pop, heavy? No one knows. And so, to go on with influences, I believe there is an itsy bitsy, slight resemblance with IRON MAIDEN's ''Fear of the Dark'' record, released in 1992. Yeah, we all know how that story goes: the band tried out a sharp rock record and, as it came out to be brilliant, it still differed from the usual progy 'n heavy MAIDEN. So maybe it's a bold statement here, as it was still more complex and well written, or closer to heavy metal than the quartet's record here, but then what could it possibly be that reminds me of the forefathers so much? Well, I think you're right. It's that cheap Eddie replica on the cover art.<