STRÖM is a Swedish Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band who sings entirely in their native tongue. They have a love for heavy guitars and catchy rhythms, sometimes feeling a little AC/DC, others going more BAD WOLVES. Either way, their sound is intriguing in that it covers a lot of ground while remaining very cohesive. Their self-titled debut album was released on September 23, 2022, via Black Lodge Records.

Thanks to Google translate, I know what the song titles are. The opening track is "Time Sings." I don't know about time, but Zdravko definitely does. He has a really nice mix of clean and gritty vocals scattered throughout this song and all the others on the record. His range is pretty impressive, getting up into the falsetto range with ease. The guitars are melodic and stick to the lighter tones, staying more in the Hard Rock realm.

"Katapult" goes a bit heavier, using darker tones, turning the riff towards the Metal end of their sound. The bass and drums stick together through most of the songs, forming a well-bonded rhythm section. They are not the most complex melodies you will come across, but they are definitely some of the most solid. Joel and Tomas are an excellent team and one of the more consistent pairs in Rock music today.

"Vass Tunga (Reed Tongue)" is a heavier song with a dark tone and a more Sludge Metal tempo. The tone seems to speak of anger and disappointment at being lied to or about. "Ensam Ar Stark (Alone Is Strong)" is more upbeat and lighter in tone, giving the impression of being an anthem to personal strength and perseverance. You don't need to know what is being said to feel what they want to tell you. Each song beings its' own theme and musical story.

The songs on this album vary in their tones and tempos. Some are faster, some light and anthemic, others dark and angry or bitter. You have titles like "Hatet (The Hate)" and "Sadan Son Sadan Far (Evil Son Evil Father)" that go to the dark side with their tones while "Blodsband (Blood Ties)" has a lighter tone, making me think it's probably about the bond between people who have been through the same trials together.

Ström knows how to craft catchy songs with really good rhythms and killer riffs. They work well within their range of sounds, going back and forth from Rock to Metal with no loss of continuity. They stick to their guns and do what they do best. There is no Progressive Rock or Power Metal because they know that is not where their true passions lie. These guys are a Rock band, tried and true.