geff land of the free

Released: 27 July 2009 Label: Metal Heaven

With a line-up featuring members of HammerFall and Yngwie Malmsteem’s band, plus a guest appearance from Stratovarius keyboardist Jens Johansson, it will come as no surprise to learn that this album doesn’t stray a million miles away from the blueprint of European Power Metal.

Riffs are instant and fluid, vocal melodies are catchy and the rhythms are geared towards getting your fist in the air. But where many of their contemporaries might look to the likes of Maiden, Priest and Sabbath for their inspiration, Geff look to that other great British institution – Deep Purple – for theirs.

Although many of the tracks are built around the classic metal licks of guitarist Ralf Jedestedt, the keyboards of Mats Olausson also feature heavily throughout, serving both as a melodic base and as a dramatic counterpoint to the more generic shredding solos – not that there’s anything wrong with shredding solos but a bit of variety is never a bad thing!

Stand out moments include the anthemic title track, alongside Fruits of Life and Living Generation both of which reference the aforementioned Deep Purple and pre-MTV makeover era Whitesnake, with their in the pocket rhythms and soulful melodies. Vocalist Goran Edman excels throughout the album, nicely underplaying the histrionics favoured by many metal vocalists and bringing a certain subtlety to even the heaviest of songs.

There are lulls; the laid back and bluesy Pennywise and Pound Foolish sits somewhat uncomfortably next to the full-on metal attack of the title track, while Mr Cain is an ill-advised and clumsy foray into the world of Britpop-style balladry, but overall the album is a winner and is sure to get a big thumbs up from fans of classic rock and traditional metal everywhere.

by Marcus Jervis