| Musical Style: Melodic Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Talking Music | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2019 | Artist Website: XT |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: No Quote |
| Running Time: 49:57 |
XT is synonymous with guitarist Björn Stigsson and vocalist Sonny Larsson. The Swedish duo trace a partnership to the late eighties when Larsson was part of Stigsson’s main band at the time Leviticus, which sadly never recorded with Larsson as part of its lineup, and later contributed lead vocals to six songs on Stigsson’s wonderful 1989 solo album Together With Friends. With its moniker synonymous for ‘Christ’, XT did not come about until 1991 when Leviticus had run its course and Stigsson and Larsson, having spent the previous year in Bible school, decided to form a new band.
XT released its self-titled debut in 1992 (on Viva Records), a keyboard driven pop rock outing with a commercial AOR slant, while sophomore effort Taxfree (also Viva) ensued a year later, heavier with its predisposition towards melodic hard rock but without forsaking the commercial basis. XT arguably hit its artistic stride in 1995 (again, Viva) with magnum opus Extended Empire in which it realized a straight on heavy metal bent to stand heads and shoulders above its first two albums in terms of guitar driven mettle.
Stigsson and Larsson remained on the sidelines the next twenty years until hitting the comeback trail in 2017 with its excellent (noting the 90% Angelic Warlord review) Talking Music fourth XT album Saved By The Blood. With a catchy seventies classic rock sound to revel in the blues with the Hammond B3 to match, Saved By The Blood is as different from its predecessors as they are from each other.
For its fifth album, XT decided to go the compilation route that would draw its track listing form its first three albums but with a caveat: instead of re-mastering the individual songs selected, each would be re-recorded (with the bands current lineup) instead. Enter the spring of 2019 Talking Music release Revived: Standing For Jesus Christ to encompass four songs from each of the three. The decision to re-record was a wise one when factoring the divergent styles presented, with the musical upshot a melodic hard rock basis not unlike Taxfree but seasoned with seventies nuances akin to Saved By The Blood. XT factored out in the process much of the heaviness along lines of Extended Empire.
Revived opens to one of the stronger XT cuts in “The Rock In My Life”, which pretty much stays true to the original as catchy and upbeat melodic hard rock revealing an elevated keyboard mix and underpinning guitar edge. Where it separates is with its use of Hammond B3 and ditching of the programmed drums (plusses either way).
Also off XT is “Standing For Jesus Christ”, a showstopper to rank alongside what (in my opinion) are the best ever cuts composed by Stigsson, including All Is Calm All Is Quiet” (off Leviticus debut I Shall Conquer from 1983) and “The Suffering Servant” (Setting Fire To The Earth from 1987). It comes across anthem like, with an arena rock aura to give rise to as engaging a refrain you will hear (exalted in capacity) and all the AOR pomp you could ask. Similar to “The Rock Of My Life”, it sports a Hammond B3 sheen to elevate heaviness.
Final XT cuts encompass “Looking For Love”, up-tempo melodic rock maintaining the catchy hook proclivity but also backing from some of the original guitar underpinnings, and “Call Your Name”, staying true to the same laid back and easygoing bearing but with Larsson singing in the more flattering higher register. Organ carries the instrumental run to the former and smooth lead guitar latter.
Moving on to Taxfree is another Stigsson favorite in “The Silent Cry”. It proves a standout ballad, rawer and heavier in its Taxfree form but with an enhanced layer of polish for Revived to reveal the cleaner mix of backing vocals and more refined feel overall. On a side note: “The Silent Cry” was awarded back in the day the most powerful song of the year by Aftonbladet, Sweden’s biggest evening newspaper with 3.5 million readers.
“One Way To Heaven” and “Got Love” also attribute to Taxfree. The two separate as smooth AOR with a shared emphasis on eminent hooks (of the radio friendly kind) but separating in terms of the improved Revived production to reinforce firmer rhythm guitars and stauncher low end. I cannot help but be reminded of Mastedon either way (I swear I hear the Elefante brothers in the backing vocals!).
Final Taxfree track is another showstopper in “Face To Face”. It separates with its variances, with moments ranging from somber and eerie to play up haunting backing vocals and reticent guitars and others that at a moments notice break out in up-tempo fashion as the ever-present XT hooks and inspiring demeanor hold sway. Organ replaces much of the keyboards to the Taxfree rendering.
Of the four Extended Empire cuts, “Can’t Live Without You” aligns the most with the heavy metal basis of the original with its mid-paced chugga-chugga riffs and symphonic keyboards, although XT still allows its newfound Hammond B3 bent to come through. Likewise, “On The Run” ranks with the heavier Revived pieces in maintaining the swing to groove based flair, but with guitars on the courser and grainer side, reflects more of a hard rock touch as opposed to metal.
Changes manifest on “The Battle”, initially power metal infused with a driving guitar line but now a bottom heavy and mid-paced seventies style hard rocker to find Larsson lowering his vocal delivery. Of note is how the ‘it’s a battle’ chanting and symphonic choir vocals end up retained. “I Want Love” differs as well but not necessarily in the best sense in that with rhythm guitars relegated to the backend to the mix, we no longer get to appreciate its catchy guitar rhythms to the fullest. Still, the same mesmerizing melody does not fail to rise to the surface.
Main strength to Revived is the well thought out XT song selection process in that each of its 12 cuts stands on its own and makes a case for itself. To the groups credit it chose no ‘second bests’ or ‘leftovers’, not that its first three albums are laden with filler to begin with. That said, I also wish XT had branched out somewhat artistically and attempted to cover more challenging pieces such as the experimental “White Knight” (off XT) or progressive “Five Minutes To Midnight” (Extended Empire). Still, one must commend XT on performance (noting how Stigsson and Larsson remain in top form) in that the classic rock to melodic hard rock interpretations of its material translates well, although in certain instances it took several listens to adjust to the different feel to songs in which I had grown accustomed over the years. Overall, there is nothing really to complain about except vocals are a bit forward in the mix production wise. Fans of XT (or any project to involved Stigsson or Larsson) are otherwise encouraged to make Revived a necessary purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Rock In My Life” (3:52), “Standing For Jesus Christ” (3:54), “The Silent Cry” (4:52), “Got Love” (4:04), “The Battle” (4:40), “Call Your Name” (3:19), “I Want Love” (3:18), “On The Run” (6:02), “Looking For Love” (3:01), “Face To Face” (4:19), “Can’t Live Without You” (4:27), “One Way To Heaven” (4:09)
Musicians
Sonny Larsson - Lead Vocals
Björn Stigsson - Guitars, Keyboards & Moog Taurus
Danne Tibell - Hammond & Keyboards
Thomas Weinesjö - Drums
