LÖANSHARK was founded as a power trio in 2017, in the heart of Barcelona, Spain. They have tried to get on the album ladder since then. In the meantime, they did release an EP in 2018 (“The Warning Sessions”) and a compilation in 20231 (“The Gangland Tapes”). And now, on Valentines Day 2025, they have released their debut album “No Sins To Confess” through the RPM-Roar label. Well, the musical direction is very clear indeed; a vibrant mix of Hair Metal and Glam Rock, although they like to see themselves as a part of the NWOTHM movement. Well, sorry, you aren’t.

And I have to say that for three guys they are making quite a racket. The album shoots forward from the start of “Electric Shockin' Waves” and will have you wondering how it is that we haven’t heard of these guys before. And before you ask, “No Sins To Confess” is not going to lead into somewhere you ]haven’t been before, is not going to go down so far untrodden paths. No, they dare to take what has been done before and breathe new life into it in their own fashion. They have enthusiasm in their songs, in their playing, in their approach to how they should d sound. And that is very refreshing.

I like the fact that the first half of “No Sins To Confess” is fast and furious. That results in you having to take notice, listening intently to what LÖANSHARK is bringing on the album. And you hear a lot of different things. As to the influences they have, if you know your Hair Metal, you will recognise “Open Fire”, as it is a MARSEILLE cover. At other times I even hear some DOKKEN influences passing me by, especially in the guitar parts. And to me the original line up of DOKKEN is just about the best Hair Metal band ever.

What is very disappointing is that on the second half of “No Sins To Confess” the band decides to slow down. All of a sudden, the music becomes a lot less in your face. It becomes much more standard stuff, sometimes even bordering on boring. Only "Bad Guys Don't Lose" still rocks proper. I feel that LÖANSHARK is at their strongest when they go for broke, play without any speed limits in their wake. And it spoils my hope of giving the band an outstanding rating for “No Sins To Confess”. I know you need to diversify, that variety is the spice of life, but now this is an album of two halves. I for one would have loved to hear more like the first half of “No Sins To Confess”. That would have made LÖANSHARK a very fierce album to reckon with.