| Musical Style: Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent / Viva / Retroactive | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 1992 / 1994 / 1996 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: Varies | Rating: 80% / 85% / 90% |
| Running Time: Varies |
If you are of the Millennial Generation - born between the early eighties to the mid-nineties - chances are you were not there. Back in the ‘good ‘ol days’ as we call ‘em, a good measure of the hard music scene was derivative of a ‘seventies influenced sound’ elemental to straightforward hard rock, classic rock, blues rock and even heavier doom metal. Likes of The Sweet, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Uriah Heep and early Whitesnake come to mind, as does a lesser known though no less able band from Sweden in Modest Attraction.
No doubt, Modest Attraction was there, having originated in 1991 when three former members of Swedish hard rock act Borderline in vocalist Christian Liljegren, bassist Simeon Liljegren and guitarist Stefan Selvander joined forces with drummer Mick Nordstrom. With the goal to deliver seventies hard rock with Christ focused lyrics, the newly formed four-piece draws upon the influence of the above referenced acts on the five-song demo it put together in 1991. Subsequent to Stephan Mohlin replacing Selvander on guitar, Modest Attraction demoed five more tracks, which it combined with the initial five on the 1992 custom cassette entitled Get Ready.
Modest Attraction took its sound to the next level on its Viva Records 1994 debut full length The Truth In Your Face, executing heavier and added epic elements to its songwriting while incorporating Hammond organ, referencing contributions of former Borderline band mate Richard Eriksson. The group upheld the musical course on its independent third and final full-length Divine Luxury from 1996, with Hammond organ and Rhodes piano handled by Niklas Johnsson. With the Divine Luxury recording complete, Mohlin departed Modest Attraction only to be replaced by CJ Grimmark, whom accompanied the group on its forthcoming tour of Germany.
All good things, nevertheless, inevitably come to an end in that once the tour was complete, songwriting began for a fourth album but with the will and chemistry absent, Modest Attraction disbanded. Christian Liljegren and CJ Grimmark went on to found the same year neo-classical melodic metal act Narnia, which landed a deal with Pony Canyon, Inc for its 1997 debut Awakening and the rest, as they say, is history.
Long out of print collectors items, Get Ready, The Truth In Your Face and Divine Luxury were re-issued on CD in August of 2021 by Retroactive Records to include a foil stamped trading card and multi-page mini booklets (courtesy of Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics) with vintage band photos and a detailed band biography. Grimmark handled re-mastering for improved sound quality. When placed alongside the originals, Retroactive versions to The Truth In Your Face and Divine Luxury present with a more polished sound to clean up any thinness or muddiness to production (referencing former) while enhancing depth and clarity (latter).
Get Ready
I identify with Get Ready as rawest and most guitar-focused of the three releases, noting the crisp and precise feel to production and how little if any keyboards were employed. Gist is a work with a straightforward hard rock bent to impress of the barebones and no-nonsense.
Opening five songs encompass the initial Modest Attraction demo. Things begin to anthem rocker “Action”, central to gravelly guitars and rousing tempo as shouted ‘hey, hey, hey’ backing vocals prompt the stout refrain, and “King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll”, every bit leading as exuberant guitar melodies and all the catchy proclivity you could ask define the opulent scene. Ensuing cuts “Get Ready!”, of the slower tempo and home to victorious bass and sledgehammer guitars, and “Come On!”, peculiar to a bluesy hard rock mentality imbued with melodic vocal harmonies that would sound at home on a Stryper album, are of equal quality. Closing the first five is gentle acoustic instrumental “Unfailing Love”.
Final five begin to “Be Your Child” with its mirthfully flowing classic rock imprints (not heavy as some but decisive with its catchiness) followed by “Love Shot Me Down” to see raised up momentum and a darker guitar crunch (not to mention funky instrumental moments). “Calm Before The Storm” further shores up the bluesy with its plodding Whitesnake-ish vibe and Christian’s heartfelt mid-ranged vocals, while “Shake The World” does exactly that as a metal edged essence aligns with pronounced backing vocals to brashly repeat songs title. Final cut “Down On My Knees” is one of the Get Ready finest as an exuberant rocker to see lofty hooks and towering energy bring to mind Norway’s Sarepta.
As a long-term Modest Attraction fan, I find Get Ready a treat due to not being previously aware of its existence. Yes, a bit different from the two that follow with its earthy essence, but it proves every bit exemplary in terms of songwriting and musicianship.
Final Verdict: Hope I am not underrating the album by assigning an 80% grade in that there is a lot to like here.
The Truth In Your Face
The Truth In Your Face maintains the Get Ready heaviness but reflective of added seventies influences in the form of Hammond organ. Hence, “Firefall”, a lively hard rocker re-recorded by Narnia (on Awakening under the title “Time Of Changes”) with the Modest Attraction rendering innate to sleek keyboards and a fitting classic rock essence, and “I Can’t Live Without Your Love”, also covered by Narnia (re-titled “Heavenly Love” for Awakening) in representing a dignified ballad with Hammond B3. Third cover includes a revamped version to Get Ready track “Down On My Knees” to feature Simeon Liljegren’s killer bass work.
“The Healing Touch” is first of five cuts in the two to three minute range. It excites as a glistening energy burst with hooks and verve to match, as does “Feed Your Fire” in taking a boogie flavored hard rock stance with a grooving refrain. “Your Love Is True, Part I” moderates as slow and relaxed funk rock with fantastic guitar solo from Mohlin, while “Your Love Is True, Part II” ensues as a mostly instrumental reprise with rousing keyboards. “Blizzful Man” closes the five in revisiting edgy hard rock with a muscular feel not unlike Rez Band.
A stretch of three four-minute songs succeeds. Things begin to “Tonight”, a mid-paced semi ballad with a gentle disposition and melody to spare, ensued by “Don’t Worry”, funk based with larger than life bass and even bigger vocal harmonies. “The Burning Flame” is albums fastest in racing its span to bass and organ interplay as guitars tower and instrumental moments drive with abandon.
Album closes to my favorite cut in seven-minute doom monster “Time”. It slogs with the best of them, opening to distorted bass followed by lumbering guitars and acute low end as a bounteous melody separates despite the astringent scene. Soulful vocals allow a soothing effect.
It would be fair to suggest The Truth In Your Face finds Modest Attraction coming into its own from its newfound use of keyboards in addition to the musical maturity most bands make between their initial demo material and first full-length release. Upshot is a more polished sound compared to Get Ready.
Final Verdict: Strengths in the areas of songwriting, musicianship and production equate to a very solid 85%.
Divine Luxury
Divine Luxury represents the Modest Attraction magnum opus as all aspects of the writing and recording process elevate to the next level. I think so highly of the album as to include it in an article I wrote outlining what (in my opinion) are the top 50 Christian metal and hard rock albums of the nineties (placing 27th to be exact).
Energy from The Truth In Your Face carries over to opening vocal cut “Fruit Of Rejection” with its driving hard rock rhythms, cudgeling drums and bruising guitars and second “Cheap Talk” in taking an elevated keyboard approach but vibrant and hook focused all the same.
Maintaining the intent energy is arena rocker “Burn On The Flame”, projecting an anthem feel with its fiery execution and bluesy lead guitar, and groove driven “Dreamer”, allowing a funk rock dance rhythm to include a screaming organ solo. One cannot deny the high level of Modest Attraction musicianship on the two.
Also upbeat are “Troubled Child” and “Hypocrisity”. Former bolts to a joining of organ and guitar as scintillating vocal melodies hold sway, while latter hustles equally to Simeon’s distorted bass to create a fortitude driven sound. “Mr. Bitter” aligns with the two as a Hammond organ barnstormer with thickly woven refrain and Christian’s emotional vocal delivery.
“Everyone’s A Star”, first of several mid-paced cuts, represents a duet between Christian and Nordstrom in weaving lighter melodic bass elements and keyboards over underpinning guitars. Later in the track-listing, “Star” reprises the “Everyone’s A Star” refrain but in laid back lounge style form. “Promised Land” brings full on doom with opening drum solo followed by slogging determination to see trudging guitars and moody harmonizing combine for the brooding.
Also slower are albums two six-minute mid-point cuts. “Love” sees Simeon handle vocals with a smooth, lower register form complementing the songs peaceful acoustic vibe as a predominant melody prevails. This reviewer’s choice cut is “15 Years”, as epic hard rock interweaving progressive facets and profound melody with duel instrumental runs.
Divine Luxury finds Modest Attraction hitting its prime stride with a near flawless package of songs standing alongside fantastic musicianship and three equally able vocalists. Too bad the group did not carry over the momentum to a third album.
Final Verdict: By far the group’s finest effort receives a well-deserved 90% grade.
Summary
Give Retroactive Records credit for making three strong full-length releases from Modest Attraction in such an upgraded form in terms of re-mastering and packaging. Group does the seventies influenced hard rock form with tons of grace and skill, noting how it imbues its sounds with groove, funk, blues, progressive rock and doom like moments. Consistency is also key in that not once do I hit the skip button on any of the three albums. Each come strongly recommended if you missed Modest Attraction back in the day (particularly the obscure Get Ready) or are interested in improved versions to the original releases.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Get Ready track listing: “Action” (3:33), “King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” (3:49), “Get Ready!” (4:33), “Come One!” (4:10), “Unfailing Love” (3:29), “Be Your Child” (2:41), “Love Shot Me Down” (4:10), “Calm Before The Storm” (4:47), “Shake The World” (3:31), “Down On My Knees” (4:11)
The Truth Is In Your Face track listing: “Depravity” (1:06), “Firefall” (4:54), “The Healing Touch” (2:34), “Feed Your Fire” (3:00), “Your Love Is True, Part I” (3:12), “Your Love Is True, Part II” (2:08), “Blizzful Man” (2:56), “Down On My Knees” (4:00), “Tonight” (4:27), “Don’t Worry” (4:14), “The Burning Flame” (4:25), “I Can’t Live Without Your Love” (3:54), “Time” (7:33)
Divine Luxury track listing: “Modest Inc” (:50), “Fruit Of Rejection” (3:18) “Cheap Talk” (3:20), “Everyone’s A Star” (4:45), “Burn On The Flame” (3:58), “Dreamer” (3:36), “Star” (1:52), “Troubled Child” (3:40), “Love” (6:25), “Hypocrisity” (2:57), “Evening Celebration” (:30), “15 Years” (6:45), “Mr. Bitter” (3:44), “Promised Land” (4:10), “Divine Luxury” (2:41)
