HART - The Conqueror (2012)

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HART was formed in Oslo in early 2012 by Norwegian singer Rock Hart and Beatiful Beast's Julian Angel on lead guitar.
Their debut album, originally titled 'Neon', was changed to "The Conqueror" after Hart felt the name did not match the content. "The Conqueror" was released digitally yesterday, with the CD version announced for September 25th.

Rock Hart gained notoriety as the frontman of Norway's rockers Seks with a well received CD entitled 'Harder Than You' released in 2011. The album received afeature in AOR magazine's sampler CD in Fall 2011 and spawned the single and musicvideo for the fan favorite 'Charlemagne'.
But Hart pulled the plug on Seks citing 'motivational differences' as his primary reason. Hart was unhappy with the direction of the band as he wanted to make more '80s oriented music.
He found the perfect partner in Julian Angel, the crazy hot German axe-slinger stuck in 1989 as he likes to call himself with his own band Beatiful Beast.

HART plays, indeed, '80s hard rock with a more than interesting mix of styles.
As concept, think HART as the camaraderie like the great eighties Billy Idol and Steve Stevens duo. But the music is much more hard and with real drums and bass, not sequenced patterns.
So expect uptempo tracks with a scorching guitar work all over, with punctuating riffs and firework solos. Hart has one of those voices that sounds raspy and aggresive but melodius high pitched when needed, dubbing himself all the time via multitrack mixing creating a cool effect.
The punchy attack of "Goin' Down" and "Untamed Heart Of Rock N' Roll" reminds you Steve Steven's Atomic Playboys, on some tracks you can hear some Twisted Sister influences as on "Slave" or title track "The Conqueror".
"25 To Love" brings to mind another Steven's band with Michael Monroe; the underrated Jerusalem Slim, while the heavier "Scream And Shout" even has some Judas Priest '80s more commercial moments.


With most the tracks clocking the 3-minute mark, "The Conqueror" is an album which tries to impact the listener instantly. And succeeds for the most part.
The guitar work is killer, with Julian Angel spreading some incredible solos in the best Steve Stevens style, joined in some tracks by ex- Seks Steen Larsen. The rhythm section is smashing and panned via a fat bass and razor rhythm guitars (both played by Rock Hart).
Really well produced and with an interesting concept not seen lately in the hard rock scene, "The Conqueror" is a more than welcomed album delivering something different. And really well done.
Recommended.

You've seen it first here, at 0dayrockz


01 - Goin' Down
02 - Lay It On Me
03 - Hotter Than Hell
04 - 25 To Love
05 - Untamed Heart Of Rock N' Roll
06 - Neon Dreams
07 - Love Crime
08 - Wide Awake
09 - Slave
10 - Scream And Shout
11 - The Conqueror
12 - Rock Me


Rock Hart - Vocals, bass, guitars, backing vocals
Julian Angel - Lead guitar, backing vocals
Steen Larsen - Lead guitar (Tracks #2 and #10)
Additional Musicians:
Craig Sowby - Drums
Roxxie Zilver - Backing vocals



BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/The-Conqueror/dp/B008Q0DJE0