Maximum Metal Rating Legend

The Order 1986 Company: Massacre Records Release: 2012 Genre: Hard Rock Reviewer: EC

By-the-boards, hard rock 101

Switzerland's The Order have released four albums in their six year history, a bit much considering that the band are fairly by-the-boards, hard rock 101. This new album buzzes in with the title "1986", odd considering it is 2012 and the last thing the metal population needs is another retro record. Nevertheless this powder keg is still reamed with enough intensity and talent to land near the top of the heap when it comes to the Swiss/Swedish "repeat cycle". A good thing? Not really if you are looking for something fresh and interesting. Neanderthals looking for yet another Scorpions/Accept riff to air frenzy? Well look no further than this gravy grain of licks, attitude and stay hard bravado. These songs are saturated in that generic "fight for the rock" theatric, very evident on cheesy "Damn Hot Chick" and "Long Live Rock And Roll". It's not tongue in cheek ala Steel Panther, instead these guys are absolutely dedicated to the rock with a much more serious and "professional" approach. This might not be the best route when you are playing standard volume feedback with mannerisms that recall Hagar-handled Halen. I dunno, this might be better than the last handful of Vengeance and Tankard records but the bar is extremely low it seems. As more and more hard rock seems to cloud up the atmosphere I am really holding out for that special combination of guts and glory, a good band with a great singer that isn't afraid to write catchy riffs but still challenge the listeners with solid writing. Who's going to replace the Teslas and Night Rangers of the world when old school goes new school?