When the Hard Rock label appeared back in the 70's, it was used to label bands with a weighted form of music but done with catching melodies. But to understand what make LED ZEPPELING. URIAH HEEP and DEEP PURPLE different from each other is the experience of the listeners. MORTLAND, a quintet from Nottingham (England), is an heir of the genre, as can be heard on "Devil May Care". The songs of the band can be faced as a modern approach on Hard Rock, being blunt and nasty as AC/DC used to be in some moments, but with excellent catching melodies (created by very good musical arrangements), hooking choruses, and a very good dose of adrenalized energy. If it can't be said as the most original form of music one heard before, it's honest, and can keep an unstoppable grip under your ears! Dave Buckley produced "Devil May Care", and he did a worked that makes the songs sounds alive and full of energy, balancing in a good way the sound quality, allowing the melodies and the needed aggressiveness to be heard in a clear way. The tunes used on the album bear the need to be basic, to not be seduced by modern effects to create a super produced sound (what is not the band's sound identity).

There are some great songs on this album, but "Light the Fuse" (catchy melodies and excellent guitars), "Too Close to the Sun" (a Classic Hard Rock song, where energetic aggressiveness meets with musical accessibility, with a very good chorus), "Dirty Egos" (a Hard 'n' Roll hit song, with very good vocals and an accessible feeling in some moments), "God in the Machine" (a charming mix between Hard Rock essence with some Poppy Punk elements, and with a heavy weight rhythm, a good work from bass guitar and drums), and "The Only One" (a frantic energy and great melodic approach can be detected on this one) are their best songs, but the entire album is very good.

One more time: their musical work is nothing new at all, and they can do better than what can be heard on "Devil May Care", but MORTLAND really did a great work on this album. Listen to it and see for yourselves!