NEGATIVE — Neon (review)

NEGATIVE — Neon album cover Album · 2010 · Glam Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Stephen
Unlike other fellow Finnish melodic rockers, Brother Firetribe or Reckless Love to name a few, that built their music based on the 80s decade, Negative on the other hand, proud to have a modern musical structure that's influenced from the symphonic rock maestro, Queen, to the sleazy beast of Guns N' Roses, and also to the Finland's glam elder, Hanoi Rocks. This is truly a pleasant discovery for me as I never knew they've been around since 1997, but judging from many words around that "Neon" might be their best release, I guess I'm on the right track to start listening to them.

After one quick spin, I must say Negative really know how to weave some beautiful arrangement. The strength apparently lies on the evocative emotion that's brilliantly illustrated on many songs but still packed with some flaming rhythm and unweepy melodies. The album opener, "No One Can Save Me Tonight", is probably quite a patchy start, but "End of The Line" really stands out with a fresh modern-sounding melodic rock and strong chorus. "Love That I Lost" covered with bloodpumping drums and weirdly the song sounds like a collision between Linkin' Park and House of Lords, strange but beautiful. And then comes, "Blood On Blood", the anthem driven by powerful bass slap created a wonderful Verse and reached the climax with a sensational chorus, definitely the best track of the album.

Negative didn’t forget to throw in several mandatory ballads, a female crowd pleaser, "Believe" is actually good but try changing the fourth chord of the chorus with a minor and you can sing Radiohead's "Creep" to it. "Jealous Sky" is a safe-and-decent attempt while "Fucking Worthless" isn't bad at all from the musical point of view, but they definitely should have picked a better title. "Days I'm Living For" put them back on track, a kickin' ass uptempo melodic hard rock and the second best track of the album. "Since You've Been Gone" has the same quality and qualified to be my third fave.

One weak thing that's pretty crucial for me is you can rarely find a superb guitar solos. Yes I can spot some but still far from enough. Musicianship is okay, they still have a large room for improvement, but they're doing just good so far. The production is also nice, nothing to complain for. Overall, this is a very good modern melodic rock/glam metal release and if you're a fan of the genre, this is guaranteed to cast a big smile to your face.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 6 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed