| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: Hasse Engstrom & Charizma |
| Record Label: United Rock | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 1985 | Artist Website: Charizma |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: 50:46 |
The best qualities to the Charizma 1985 United Rock Records debut full length Rock The World include a catchy joining of eighties melodic hard rock and seventies tinged AOR, strong musicianship and eye catching cover art. However, uneven lead vocals and shaky production potentially detract from the listening experience. A couple skip worthy songs is another concern.
Charizma traces to Oskarshamn, Sweden and the late seventies when brothers Bosse, Goran and Janne Nikolausson put together a punk band called High Voltage. The brothers did not start to come into their own musically until the early eighties, at which point they transitioned to a more commercial sound in line with Rock The World. A change in musical direction, however, prompted a switch to the Charizma moniker inspired by the Kiss song of the same name (off Dynasty from 1979). It was later that the three discovered Charizma means Holy Spirit in Swedish.
Touring extensively through the mid-eighties garnered Charizma a loyal fan base, which prompted it to record an album. Subsequent to a $15,000 bank loan in 1985, the group entered a studio in Stockholm and recorded and mixed Rock The World in just 11 hectic days. Of note is manner in which the bank demonstrated a significant amount of faith in Charizma by acting as a guarantor for the loan!
In 1986 Charizma released a single for a new song entitled “Turn Me On”, with the Rock The World track “Try It (Feel The Love)” on the B-side. A polish version to Rock The World (cover art below) released in 1987 featured an altered track listing to include “Turn Me On” and “Won’ Let Me Down” re-titled “He’s The Light”. A year later and Charizma played its first show in the US (Gazzari’s in Hollywood), which was followed by a 1989 video of “Turn Me On” (also below) produced by Jay Torres, who has worked with Scorpions, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metallica and others.
Rock The World was not reissued on CD until 1999 by Magdalene Records with the Swedish version track listing and “Turn Me On” and “Guardian Angels” as bonus tracks. Jeff Williams and Bill Bruce handled re-mastering, but I do not have an original vinyl copy to offer comparison. Barebones CD packaging includes a single sided insert (with no lyrics and backside listing other releases from the label) and a write up from Heaven’s Metal magazine editor Doug Van Pelt inside the jewel case.
“The Knights” gets album off to a strong start as an energized hard rocker. Song launches to a brief drum solo ahead of the sleek rhythm guitar and organ covering its remaining distance, an aligning of jubilant propensities and mean lead guitar (Goran is an underrated player) with blatant hooks allowing it to rank with my favorite tracks. I see this one fitting on either of Bloodgood’s first two albums. Lyric snippet:
God is on our side
He will make us strong
Devil's got no power
Power to make us weak
We are the knights
Come on fighter we won't loose
We are the knights
Lift your sword in the air
We are the knights
“Free From The World” tempers with an AOR influenced sound. It builds upon the accessible elements - rhythm guitar does not hit quite as hard while keyboards replace the organ - but proves no less sound, radiant refrain mirrors the Charizma penchant for choice melodies. Bloodgood again comes to mind, but this time the group’s most commercial album All Stand Together from 1991.
Two songs in and production impresses as not bad when factoring Rock The World was independently recorded on just a 15k budget. That said, album also lacks the big budget polish of those released by Swedish contemporaries Motherlode (The Sanctuary) and Leviticus (Setting Fire To Earth). Musically, I do not feel it would be out of line to describe Charizma as walking a fine line between Motherlode and Leviticus.
“Make Up Your Mind” is first of two songs in which I skip. It proves a laid back and reserved ballad with a mix of keyboards and organ a bit too prominent for my taste, lacking that extra dose of oomph and energy that might allow the all too distant melody to separate. That said I take to Goran’s bluesy soloing. Lyric snippet:
He was nailed to the cross but wasn't a criminal
That He was killed but raised from the dead
You say how can that be it's hard to believe
You gotta believe gotta believe that it's true
He will open your eyes and make you see the truth
Things you couldn't believe seem so clear
You begin to realize what God is
You'll tell your friends all that you know what you've found
As for Bosse’s vocals, they are far from bad and fit the music, but also lack the range of Swedish cohorts Sonny Larsson (whom later performed with Charizma but never recorded), Peo Pettersson (Leviticus) and Terry H. (Leviticus). Yes, perhaps unfair comparison and Bosse does a fine job, but I also feel a vocalist with greater power and range might have brought the group greater acclaim.
Back to hard rock with albums dynamic title track. “Rock The World” might not hit quite hard as “The Knights”, but it delivers a forthright blow all the same- Bosse commands the low end with his prominent bass while rhythm guitar and organ do not fail to hit the mark. Overall, an anthem-like feel pervades that Stryper could not do better- the ‘rock the world’ hooks refuse to go away.
“God Bless Rock N Roll” also touches upon anthem metal territory. As albums shortest at three minutes (I appreciate how Charizma routinely extends its material into five minute territory), song powers to ‘whoah-whoah-oh-oh’ backing vocals to start ensued by continuously repeating its title in adamant (but not repetitive) fashion. Second great song in a row.
Make that a third with commercial rocker “Try It (Feel The Love)”. Song upholds radio friendly AOR sentiments but in a keyed up package in which catchy hooks prevail, which further magnify from manner in which Janne’s flailing double bass bolsters the invigorating refrain. If it were my decision, “Try It (Feel The Love)” would have been released as the single and “Turn Me On” (as good as it is) the B-side. Lyric snippet:
You need that helping hand
Which only Jesus can give
He will lift you up
From darkness and sorrow
It doesn't matter what you have done
He washes your sins away
You will be a new creation
When you say yes
“On Your Own” embodies reserved and relaxed AOR that also brings to mind All Stand Together, particularly in light of the bluesy guitar tones. It slowly drifts to beguiling bass and layered harmony vocals, a well I wish the group had drawn from a few more times. Bosse delivers his finest performance with a soulful touch to his delivery.
“Won’t Let Me Down” impresses at once as a ballad with its piano and church organ opening. One minute in, however, and it makes a time signature to upbeat melodic hard rock with generous hooks and sleek harmonies divulging a pop essence. The classical keyboards adorning the instrumental moments help make “Won’t Let Me Down” another choice track. Lyric snippet:
When darkness surrounds me
So much that I can't see through
I don't know which way to go
When nothin' goes my way
And everything goes wrong
I feel like I'm the only one havin' hard time
But when I close my eyes and pray
Then I know that you are by my side
“Where Do You Stand” is second song in which I skip. I find it an uninspired keyboard and piano ballad that wears out its welcome at just over five minutes. The song, nevertheless, brings a meaningful message:
First bonus track “Turn Me On” represents one of the group’s signature songs, noting (again) its release as a single. It returns to a melodic rock heading, evenly melding guitar and keyboards with a commercial melody and albums best mix of burnished backing vocals. I see “Turn Me On” fitting on any mid to late eighties Petra album. Lyric snippet:
The only love there is, is from God
He won't walk away
You can turn your back on him
He'll never let your down
No matter what you do
He'll be there when you call on him
He's got the power of love ready for you
Second “Guardian Angels”, tracing to the group’s 1989 demo entitled Demotape II: 1988-89, ups energy to Stryper like melodic metal levels. Song shines with its edgy rhythm guitar and emboldened residuals, pointing to a commercial substance but not withholding in terms of anthem like appeal. Goran rips it up with one of his most blistering soloing stretches. Am I out of line to suggest a slight power metal bent?
On Rock The World, Charizma shows aptitude for penning catchy melodic hard rock and AOR numbers. “The Knights”, “Free From The World”, “Try It (Feel The Love” and “Won’t Let Me Down” are outstanding and should have garnered the group label attention. At the very least, you would have thought a label such as Pure Metal or Regency might have picked up Rock The World for domestic re-release due to its obscurity at the time. Speaking of which, the Magdalene reissue is also becoming obscure after 25 years, so Rock The World is overdue for a second re-issue to include not only a fresh re-master and professional layout and design but also any applicable bonus material.
Speaking of which, Charizma stayed busy moving forward, releasing a pair of untitled demo tapes in 1988 (first featuring seven songs and second six) and the as noted (and four song) 1989 demo, Demotape II. Charizma went on to record a second full-length album (nine songs) in 1992 entitled Heaven Can’t Wait that only saw release on cassette. Each of the Heaven Can’t Wait songs later appeared on the 1993 15-song compilation The Ultimate Call. Optimal scenario would be a multi disc compendium release that includes Rock The World and Heaven Can’t Wait in addition to the three unreleased demos.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "The Knights" (4:48), "Free From The World" (4:57), "Make Up Your Mind" (5:04), "Rock The World" (4:44), "God Bless Rock N’ Roll" (3:08), "Try It (Feel The Love)" (4:23), "On Your Own" (4:27), "He Is The Light" (4:15), "Where Do You Stand" (5:05), "Turn Me On" (4:15), "Guardian Angels" (5:36)
Musicians
Bosse Nikolausson – Lead Vocals & Bass
Goran Nikolausson – Guitars
Janne Nikolausson - Drums
Reference List
Kristensson, Eric. "Charizma." White Throne 4 (1988): 10-11 & 14.
Rocker, Randy. 'Interview With Charizma." Take A Stand (February 1989): 1-2.
Rocker, Randy. "Swedish Import- Charizma." Heaven's Metal 22 (1989): 30-3
