It's a pity many people will not be 'directived' by the mainstream Press to give a fair chance to this CD. Not because it's a 'masterpiece', a 'colossal release' or a 'groundbreaking album' but - simply - because it's a very good 'hard rocking' Metal album, the same time countless what's this? CDs are mercilessly 'pushed' to persuade us for their 'timeless classic' value, two years later to be completely abandoned for the next 'big thing'.
Can't recall the approximate population of the 'tiny paradise' of Liechtenstein, but Lovechild have the ability to turn a good amount of young people to metalheads in their native. Formed in 2002 by Roger Kaufmann, it was not long enough before ex-Satrox members Werner Schweizer and Danny Zimmermann - along with Sven Sieber - joined the camp in order to write some good music. It's a fact I'm not aware who or when did something ever came out of Liechtenstein but let's point the following facts: i) with producer Tommy Vetterli (who remembers the supremacy of this axeman in Swiss legends Coroner? - he also performed guitars in Kreator for an album or two) 'persuaded' to work with the band, the 'must' be a very good band anyway, ii) Finnvox Studios and Mika Jussila - for those who know - is another reason in the same 'vein', especially when the personal taste differentiates from one to another, iii) this year's United Forces Of Rock festival (Rockfabrik Ludwigsburg, Germany) included Lovechild in the billing, along to the likes of Pretty Maids, Fair Warning, House Of Lords and Kip Winger. Hallo?
The first thing that grabs you by the balls in Soul Collector is the production and the rhythm section. Heavy as hell, solid and 'classic' (in tempos) it is the guiding light for the music to get unfolded. The grooves/sounds of Accept, Krokus, Sinner, Dokken and Bonfire in one (for whoever gets it). Following up is the splendid voice of Werner Schweizer: hell yeah, the guy's on fire! Passionate, 'demonic' and 'sharp' at the same time, his throat reminded me a 'crosslink' of Steelheart extraordinaire frontman Mike Matijevic (yes, yes,yes!!!) and Geoff Tate (him, you know). Nuff 'said!
As for the music itself: a balance between 'traditional' German Metal and more hard rockin' vibes is what the tracklist consists of. Some tunes have the 1987-1989 Whitesnake or 'wider' Queensryche 'smell', while others tend to follow the 'mainstream' Accept/Sinner technique. Nah, too many things to mention for similarities or influences (even the 'weird' persona of Edguy!), but - to stay outta it - no 'current stream' proposition (apart from the 'fresh' production) should you expect.
If you're unfamiliar to the abovementioned artists - after you've, in prior, dealt with their style - then Lovechild won't do you any good. And that's a shame since the album is kinda 'killer'! Still, for the rest there's only one thing we should point out (rephrasing ol' Dave's cries while prologue-ing 'Snake's most 'classic' tune onstage): here's a band for ya!!!