TwentyDarkSeven

Review by Teresa Hopkins

Artist: TwentyDarkSeven
Album: ROAR
Label: Metalapolis Records
Release Date: October 31, 2014

Tracklist:
01. Do You Like The Dark
02. Come Undone
03. Heart Of A Lion
04. So Damn Insane
05. Killing With Kindness
06. Edge Of A Knife
07. You Don’t Know Me
08. Stand Your Ground
09. Back In The Dirt
10. Hard Times Coming

I was checking out some new music for review about a month or so back, and in the process of looking for a particular band, these guys were a serendipitous find I’ve been enjoying listening to ever since.

Germans Marcus Jürgens (Vocals; ex-BRAINSTORM, PUMP) and Peter Wagner (Guitars; ex-WICKED TEMPTATION) formed TwentyDarkSeven in early 2013 and later joined with Dutchmen Alex Jansen (Bass; MENNEN) and Hans in t´ Zandt (Drums; ex-PRAYING MANTIS, MAD MAX, VENGEANCE, BANGALORE CHOIR). Their chemistry was instant, and the quartet went right into the studio to get to work.

Their debut album is a no-nonsense collection of aggressive, rebellious, hard and heavy guitar-oriented rock at its finest. “ROAR” is chock full of killer riffs, soaring leads, and fiery fills. The rhythm guitars are wide open, raw, and razor sharp at the same time, like a new chainsaw on a side of beef. I DIG it. Alex’s bass lines give it terrific bottom end and keep the groove going with Hans’ hard-hitting style on the skins. His drums are just that right kind of tight you can feel thumping in your chest as much as you can hear it. Peter’s playing reminds me of Zakk Wylde at times and especially George Lynch at the lead breaks. Let’s just say there’s a lot of what I liked about Dokken and thankfully, nothing I didn’t like here; Marcus can belt it out like a beast unleashed, which is just what their sound calls for. Great hooks in the songs and not too much fuss about lyrical content (I’ve got no complaints for them in that department either!). Achim Köhler, (Primal Fear, Sinner, Brainstorm, and Edguy) mixed and mastered the album, sharing credit for the band’s high-octane sound.

Dokken and Dio are mentioned here and there as some of their influences or musical comparisons. I think TwentyDarkSeven could hold their own with the Black Label Society or Motörhead fans too. ‘Come Undone’, ‘Heart Of A Lion’, ‘So Damn Insane’, and ‘Hard Times Comin” are among my top picks on the album, but it charges at full steam for the entirety and will surely satisfy your appetite with some of the heaviest hard rock around.

“ROAR” is the kind of album that could make a starched-collar want to trade those threads and fancy wheels for some leather and tats, a heavily-chromed custom ride, and the wind in his (or her) hair. Mayhem is optional—and encouraged.

Rating: 8.5/10

The official video for ‘Heart Of A Lion’: