From the land of Pedro Alvares Cabral (go Google it!), we have the band IN WE FALL that is releasing their first full album Inner Self via Eclipse Records. Founded only 3 years ago, the band promises to deliver a sound influenced by BREAKING BENJAMIN and ALTER BRIDGE. Let’s check this out since I like one of these bands, and the other I don’t. We start with “Road To Li(v)e” that has a syncopated tempo and I like what I am hearing. Good melodic Hard Rock with an edge. The vocals remind me of Richie Kotzen, that I also like. The next track is “(A)void” and the band steps on the breaks here. With a much softer touch on this track, but without missing the energy, the band surprises the listener with intricate song structure and singing melody.

The singer Daniel Moreira also plays guitar and does not disappoint. His voice is full of nuances and able to generate the necessary feelings that the song requires. Just check the romantic “Looking Inside” and you can hear a nice melody line without getting to the desperate screams. The songs on this album are not “aggressive” in their nature. I mean that you should not expect crazy Hard Rock with over the top performances. Instead, you will get well polished and well produced Hard Rock songs like “Whole Again” or the also good “Hope is Gone” showing that the band is more lean to the softer and more bluesy type of Rock with some memorable singing lines without falling into BON JOVI land. The band also has another guitar player in Carlos Carneiro that created the band together with the competent drummer Frederico Lopes. If Carlos is responsible for the guitar solos, you can hear a nice one on "Silent War” that has also some ALICE IN CHAIN vibes. Other than the competent drummer Frederico Lopes, the band also has a good bass player in Luis Almeida that does not compromise despite not making the bass shine more on the riff as he should. Bass players do not need to follow the guitar riffs all the time like in “Half Human” and should have a space to shine like the drums do.

One of the highlights of the album for me is “What Now” with its soft approach, and with some touches of PINK FLOYD. The band is composed by well seasoned musicians and composers and the tunes on this album shows a variety of moods and musical approaches giving the listener a variety of tastes to chew from. The lyrics in its majority describes our struggles with life and love but delivered with whimsical touches instead of the suffering and desperation of the love ballads. The album is more on the soft side of Hard Rock but the tracks deliver some great musicianship and music structure like in “Winter Shades” that also has some interesting tempo with the riff, and a nice instrumental mid section with another good guitar solo. This is a band that will please you and your partner that does not like Hard Rock as much as you. The songs are nicely done and easily digestible. We end our journey with the heavier “Empty Hand” with some crazy dissonant guitar chords and finally, some distinguished bass lines. Impressive first album and I believe this is a band to have in your mind if you like the genre.