Reviewed by David Pearce
Artist: The 69 Eyes
Album: X
Label: Sony Music / RCA (Finland), Nuclear Blast (EU & USA)
Year: (EU) 28th Sept – (NA) 9th October 2012
Track Listing
1. Love Runs Away
2. Tonight
3. Black
4. If You Love Me The Morning After
5. Red
6. I Love The Darkness In You
7. Borderline
8. I’m Ready
9. I Know What You Did Last Summer
10. When A Love Comes To An End
Some 22 years later after forming, in the world without THE RAMONES or TYPE O NEGATIVE, THE 69 EYES release their 10th studio album. To celebrate their long existence, the band has decided to name the album as Roman tenth, “X”. It also has ten songs. In the world where albums mattered, the 10th album of THE ROLLING STONES was “Exile on Main St.” And indeed “X” is also a turning point for THE 69 EYES. It clearly starts something new. Once again it sounds completely fresh and ambitious. It’s more melodic than its predecessor, Hollywood-made Glam metallic “Back In Blood”. It’s also the most catchy and hooky goth ’n’ roll you have ever heard – no wonder since the album’s made under the supervision of the Swedish pop orientated production team called On The Verge. The team of Pat Phoenix and Joakim Övrenius has been co-writing with THE 69 EYES before; songs like “Never Say Die” and “Perfect Skin” has been written with them. The 10th 69 EYES album was recorded in Stockholm and Helsinki during the spring of 2012. It was produced by Swedish team On the Verge and mixed by Stefan Boman (KENT, THE HELLACOPTERS, and BACKYARD BABIES). It takes THE 69 EYES’ goth ’n’ roll sound back to their highlights decade ago of their albums like “Blessed Be” and “Paris Kills”, yet rising the singer Jyrki’s voice as the main statement of the record. The man in black is back. THE 69 EYES rise again. New THE 69 EYES album, X, comes out on September 28th (EU) and October 9, 2012 (NA) via Nuclear Blast Records.
The first song on the album is Love Runs Away it starts off a good heavy guitar riff then the vocals come in the song has good catchy lyrics especially in the chorus it is a good start to the album. The second and third songs are Tonight and Black as the first song these songs have some great lyrics, catchy chorus’s & good riffs The vocals are so deep and dark I really like them I could listen to these all day. The fourth song on the album is If You Love Me The Morning After starts off with a clean guitar riff then the vocals kick in deep and dark with purpose again I love the sound of this song its dark but it has got good vibe feel to it. The lyrics again are perfectly done and the guitar work is second to none. The fifth and sixth songs is Red and I Love The Darkness In You these songs are full of good deep dark lyrics, the guitar work is superb the lyrics are so catchy in the chorus’s you cannot help but sing along to them good stuff. The seventh song is Borderline the song starts off with the guitar then the vocals come in this song is my favourite on the album I just love how this sounds it is a bit different to the other songs on the album. But in a strange way it has kept the dark feeling to it. The solo in this has a real (I hate to say this) but it has a country style to it but it goes so well with the song it does not matter to me it is still my favourite song.
The eighth and ninth songs are I’m Ready and I Know What You Did Last Summer the song I’m Ready has a real rock n roll feel to it but keeping that dark vocal work which makes the song work well. This song really does remind me of Sisters Of Mercy just by the way it has be written and performed but keeping their own stamp on it really good stuff. I Know What You Did Last Summer starts off slow but kicks into life then the vocals come in this song again has a real good feel to it a bit more upbeat in the chorus section. It has a really catchy chorus in which I just have to start singing along to these are the sort of songs that really got me into this kind of music and it just makes me feel great inside. The guitar work on this is great I just cannot say a bad word about it all. The tenth and last song on the album is When A Love Comes To An End starts off with some thunder and rain then the guitar riff comes in with the vocals it is a bit slower than the previous songs it is no less than impressive than the others. It is right up there but in a different way but that is why this album is so good. The lyrics are sung with purpose the when they are sung you feel what the singer is feeling and that is what you can call a great song and album.
Overall
On this album I can hear so many great styles you can hear Type O Negative in there also a bit of Sisters Of Mercy all classic bands but The 69 Eyes are right up there with the best of them. In this album I can honestly say they have made a classic style album it has good deep, dark vocals cracking guitar work and it will get you singing along to the chorus’s. It maybe a dark sounding album but it very impressive this is the sort of album that got me into this genre and it is going to keep me here for a very long time if this album is anything to go by.
9/10
Band Members
Jyrki 69 – Vocals
Bazie – Guitar
Timo-Timo – Guitar
Archzie – Bass
Jussi 69 – Drums
Weblinks
http://www.69eyes.com
http://www.facebook.com/the69eyes
http://www.twitter.com/69eyesofficial
http://www.youtube.com/the69eyesofficial
http://web.stagram.com/n/Jyrki69
http://www.myspace.com/theofficial69eyes
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 