| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: Brazil |
| Year Released: 2019 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 44:20 |
For 2017, Sunroad stepped up its game within the Brazilian metal segment - not to mention hard music scene in general - with its Roxx Records seventh-full length album Wing Seven. As described in the 85% Angelic Warlord review, Wing Seven found the Goiania based group ‘maintaining its penchant for straightforward hard rock and melodic metal fused with strong blues and groove influenced overtones’. More specifically, the album highlights ‘a consistency and songwriting depth Sunroad struggled to achieve in the past and matches it with the strongest production of its career’.
Same holds true with the Sunroad spring of 2019 eighth full-length offering (also Roxx Records) Heatstrokes. Reinforced is the groups penchant for composing catchy melodic metal and hard rock cuts (noting its ever present groove to blues based attachment) and focus on quality production and consistent songwriting (Heatstrokes is also not home to any skip buttons). Lone difference, however, is turnover in the Sunroad lineup, referencing the departure of guitarist Netto Mello and bassist Akasio Angels and recruitment of newcomer guitarist Mike Vieira. Holdovers remain founding member and drummer Fred Mika and vocalist Andre Adonis, whom helps on lead guitar (two songs) in addition to handling all bass duties.
Opening cut “Mind The Gap” embodies the seamless transition made by Sunroad between Wing Seven and Heatstrokes. It sets a reverberant mid-paced tone, giving prominence to stark rhythm guitars to manifest an unwavering heaviness but also not forsaking the engaging from how catchy hard rock hooks govern its punchy span. Adonis remains a force with his ever present at times gritty and others melodic middle-register vocal abilities.
“Given And Taken” mirrors the up-tempo with its high-energy focal point. Fast paced riffs with an eighties edge play a defining role, bounteous when factoring the complicated bass to provide the churning low-end but equally melodic in light of the distant vocal melodies adorning the heated refrain. Instrumentally, Vieira proves a force with his proficient lead work.
Back to the mid-paced muscular with “Screaming Ghosts”, five minutes of thickset pummeling to find Sunroad flexing its muscles in straight on hard rocking fashion. Similar to predecessor “Given And Taken”, backing vocals lend a contrasting burnishing effect for the refrain, while lead guitar again is of a blistering quality.
In similar vein but slower is “Lick My Lips”, another powerful slugger with an unyielding feel complemented by lower register vocals, to find some gravelly angst coming to the front, and afflicting low end, affirmed in the technical roll and drum yielding of Mika. Once more, Sunroad proves itself determined and salient without coming across overbearing.
After opening to four straight sluggers, Heatstrokes moves on to the calming effect of ballad “Empty Stage”. Albums lengthiest at six minutes, the song wistfully drifts through its verse sections to stilly done guitar and keyboards - as feedback decorates the backend - only to explode for the forthright refrain in which austere guitars play the greater role. Adonis exhibits nice range in allowing a Scorpions-like bearing. Of equal note is the manner in which guitars and keyboards mirror a classical effect to help make “Empty Stage” this reviewer’s choice cut.
“Unleash Your Heat”, a shorter (two minute) number to feature a couple curt verses and narration from author Augusta Faro, segues to albums title track. “Heatstrokes” separates as a seventies influence hard rocker, divulging a ton of lower register groove and cowbell to go hand in hand as light traces of Hammond B3 adorn the backdrop. Guitars take a bluesy form, revealed in another stretch of earthy lead guitar.
“Spellbound Age” provides a plodding take on the Sunroad sound. With spacey keyboards to start followed by echoing bass, the song scratches and claws in grainy fashion to understated hooks and cameo appearances by well-placed keyboards. A fitting lower register slant reveals vocal wise.
Up-tempo hard rocker “Overwhelmed” also reflects upon the eighties. It brings expected ingredients in the form of vibrant and spirited demeanor, flowing front to back groove, blazing guitars (I cannot say enough good things about the work of Vieira) and rollicking refrain. Occasional heavy-set backing vocals lend a flattering earnest effect.
“Dare To Dream” closes Heatstrokes in melodic hard rocking fashion. A catchy guitar riff commands its length - driving, imparting and of the refuse to go away form - in allowing a smoothly flowing allure to touch upon an elevated commercial essence in comparison to much of the albums material (by no means a bad thing). Instrumentally, song takes a reverberant heading as the same manifest riff holds sway.
Heatstrokes presents with Sunroad remaining in the same prime form it captured on Wing Seven. Musically, it would not be out of line to describe it as a continuation all the same with its reaching for groove driven melodic metal and hard rock with a bluesy structure. Maintained in the process is the same strong performance in terms of musicianship and vocals, while production continues to hold its own. If a fan of Sunroad or any of the styles presented, I encourage you to pick up Heatstrokes not to mention Wing Seven, if you have not already done so.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Mind The Gap” (5:01), “Given And Taken” (4:05), “Screaming Ghosts” (4:56), “Lick My Lips” (4:07), “Empty Stage” (6:01), “Unleash Your Heat” (1:59), “Heatstrokes” (4:12), “Spellbound Age” (5:01), “Overwhelmed” (3:57), “Dare To Dream” (5:02)
Musicians
Andre Adonis - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass & Keyboards
Mike Vieira - Guitars
Fred Mika - Drums
