Stephen
Seks, which also means 'Sex' in my native Indonesian language, is a Norway glam band but fronted by an American singer, Rock Hart. This reminds me of the Norwegian melodic rock legend, TNT, where the famous Tony Harnell was actually American. 'Harder Than You' is a result of Seks' roaring spirit to uplift the 80s glam but at the same time, they keep the modern edge to appeal the younger generation.
"Rich Girl" is a good track but not a very strong start for the band, "On The Inside" is a complete filler, "Something To Believe In" is pretty good actually but somehow the vocal part is a bit patchy and not my favorite here. "Charlemagne" is an interesting song, a glam track but the thrashy nuance is very thick, and the tempo is a fast strike, I swear it could be a Flotsam & Jetsam song. "Royal Nights" is the first winner here, the Motley Crue influence is obvious, the riffs are awesome, a brilliant tune.
"Hangin' On" is strangely good, a psychedelic ballad similar to Beatles' song with a more accessible chorus, the unusual composition is very unique. "Forever" is a good semi-ballad track, "Get Out Now" is like The Offspring plays glam, love the arrangement! "Not Far From Shallow Water" is another great modern rock ballad, and I think there are two or three more fillers here, such as "Lick You Up" and "I Wanna Be Your Bitch".
1/3 alternative rock and 2/3 glam portion is the best description on how 'Harder Than You' sounds. The best thing of this band is Charles McMillin's superior guitarworks. I learned from their bio that Charles is the last member to join the band after a thrilling audition and they sure pick a champion there. The vocal harmonization is also wonderful and the album has a clean and crisp production. If you like Motley Crue or Enuff Z'Nuff, with a hint of modern touch here and there, you might want to check this one out.