On disc: White Widdow

 
 White Widdow
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Serenade
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Serenade

(AOR Music - 2011)



 
 

 

It's less then a year since White Widdow presented their self-titled debut album. Some loved the album, others said they sound old-fashioned. Well, I guess that if you love the sound of the 80's you love White Widdow, but if you never got into melodic rock / hard rock / glam metal, then this one is wasted on you...



Xavier Millis' keyboard kicks off Cry Wolf, an it has the authentic 80's sound. Obviously the guys from Down Under stick to their favorite sound. The opener is a catchy melodic rocker. With Strangers In The Night they offer a keyboard-laden hit, but personally I prefer songs like Do You Remember Me, a mid-paced rocker where the guitar is more up-front. Reckless Nights kicks off with the sound of a radio where you search the right station... They continue their sonic journey back in time. A Jump-like keyboard leads you into How Far I Run, Jules Millis' vocals have a melancholy touch which got softened when they head into the refrain. Serenade is a bit repetitive, but still... it's a decent tune. More Van Halen-like keyboard you'll get at Show Your Cards, but it's only the keyboard which says Van Halen, the rest isn't. Mistake and Patiently are showing of their love for bands like Foreigner, Journey and Chicago. With Love Won't Wait they finish this album, again they showed that you can play 80's melodic rock but still sound fresh. A good album which I recommend to all fans of the 80's melodic rock / hard rock!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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White Widdow

(AOR Heaven - 2010)



 
 

 

Lately more and more bands from Australia try to make it international, White Widdow from Melbourne has signed a deal with AOR Heaven and now they present their self-titled debut. The band was founded in 2008 by Jules Millis to play 80's hard rock / stadium rock. Btw, White Widdow are supporting Bon Jovi these days in Australia.

First the sound of thunder and rain, then keyboard and guitar set in. The intro Shoukai leads over to Tokyo Rain, a riff-based hard rock tune which reminds me a bit of early Bon Jovi... A keyboard-laden rocker is Broken Hearts Won't Last Forever, a catchy one which keeps the late 80's sound alive. The keyboard at the beginning of We've Got The Wings is a bit too much Jump-like, later the song has a dash of Tyketto - and Guiffria. Spirit Of Fire would have got some airplay in the heydays of glam metal... The keyboard is annoying me, but that's more a matter of taste... Great guitar play by Enzo Almanzi. One More Day is another catchy tune with the typical backings, still it's one of my favorites on White Widdow. Another highlight is for me the closer Fire & Ice, a balladesque rocker with a melancholy touch.

Actually my main problem is that every song make you think of one or the other band. Even if they show a solid performance, their songs lack something unique... They haven't found their own sound yet, but if you want something new for your player and if you frequently play the early albums of House Of Lords, Guiffria, Winger and Bon Jovi as well as White Lion, Tyketto and Trixter, then you might enjoy White Widdow a lot.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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