Released by: SPV Recordings
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Melodic Rock
Links: https://ellismanoband.bandcamp.com/album/morph
Line Up:
Chris Ellis – Vocals
Edis Mano – Guitars
Severin Graf – Bass
Nico Looser – Drums
Lukas Bosshardt – Keys
Tracklist:
Virtually Love
Count Me In
20 Years
For All I Care
Scars
Madness And Tears
Ballroom
Stray
Countdown To Nothing
State Of Grace
The Fight For Peace (Live)
During the late 70s and 80s KROKUS became the most important (hard) classic rock band out of Switzerland, but GOTTHARD took over during the 1990s and 2000s before sadly STEVE LEE died in a motorcycle accident. Around 2015 the ELLIS MANO BAND was formed around Chris Ellis – Vocals, Edis Mano – Guitars, Severin Graf – Bass, Nico Looser – Drums and Lukas Bosshardt – Keys, and it seems that with every new album they are getting better and better. The new album Morph shows that they are probably the finest Swiss classic rock band at the moment. It already starts with the artwork of their 5th album, which is a beautiful piece of art created by Canadian album design legend HUGH SYME (RUSH, AEROSMITH, BON JOVI…), and also musically speaking they are taking it to a very high level.
The songs are slightly more catchy radio-oriented and melodic rock-ish than their previous albums, while still having that rootsy blues rock touch, yet with a clear American heartland/classic rock approach, which can already be heard during the uptempo opener Virtually Love. Other highlights are the midtempo Count Me In, the DEEP PURPLE-ish For All I Care, Madness And Tears, and the beautiful soulful ballad Stray (like KRAVITZ meets SOTO in a smooth bar). Vocally Chris has an own identity, although he does remind me a bit of DAVID BOWIE somehow in the lower register (which can be heard very clearly during Countdown To Nothing), while the instrumental part is as already mentioned lighter than their bluesy rock roots, but on the other hand you have here an international sounding album that should easily gain them radio airplay all over the world.
If you like for example KING KING, then you might like this as well!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 8/10