Album Review: Spearhead

Spearhead is a fine example of what can occur when lovers of a genre can collaborate with a clear vision. Is this experimental, ground-breaking music questioning the validity of guitars in the post-modern musical landscape? Heck no. This is classically inspired hard rock of the highest calibre. This self-titled album has a full, rich and balanced sound, allowing the incredible vocals of Skottie Hardwick to soar, supported by a band filled with incredible talent. Gang vocals, either echoing the lyrics or belting out their own poetic words in breaks between the main singing parts, are the secret sauce on this album. The production is lush and thick, showcasing the abilities of the whole band, particularly of lead guitarists Stevo Morrez and Jake Single. The songs on this album feature multiple guitar solos, often one well composed and melodic, the other more technically showy. The band, completed by Logan Wedgwood (drums) and Wade Blow (bass), sounds inspired by acts such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, Guns ‘n Roses and even Jon Bovi.

The album kicks off with I’ll Bring The Fire which showcases an anthemic introduction with a classic kick pedal driven riff. This meets an unsuspecting rock and roll refrain that really introduces some great bluesy flavour to the mix. ‘You bring the ice … now bring the fire!’ is a brilliant moment to wait for. Second song Cyclone Streets starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up until a subdued bridge. The song is reminiscent of Van Halen’s Mean Streets, and features some great harmonized guitars, and some seriously catchy melodies. Redwitch is a more sinister sounding song; ‘heart eater, demon dealer, soul stealer, you’re making it rain!’ This has the most modern sound on the record so far, with possibly detuned guitars. Titans is pure fantasy fun with epic melodies and a catchy echoed vocal line.

Last Summer changes the mood a little with an undistorted guitar introduction that sounds almost delta blues perhaps using some open tunings. ‘All that I can think about is last summer’ Skottie sings in a truly epic, nearly operatic delivery. Leviathan is catchy from the moment the simple but bold riff begins, tempered with some interesting counterpoint harmony. ‘Ferocious nature lies before us, white lightning runs across the sky’ paints a dramatic vision. Pride Before the Fall has a cool fade intro and sounds perhaps the most like ’80s glam rock, while Molotov has almost a Smoke on The Water inspired introduction.

My personal favourite two songs are May I, (which I feel could have been earlier in the album) and the fun Trainwreck. Both songs are classic hard rock, and the later features some awesome backup vocal lines: ‘you know this place like the back of your hand’. There’s even a Darkness reference, ‘with a one way ticket to hell and back!’.

The album closes with Together in the End, a ballad beginning with a Stairway To Heaven inspired introduction that unfolds into a monster of a song. ‘In your arms, I want to be in your arms, so that we can be, together in the end’ Skottie sings passionately until the very end.

Some people may listen to this and criticize it for sounding too dated. Others might critique the lack of connection to New Zealand culture or identity. I would say the album offers a chance to record the genre of classic rock with modern technology and instruments. It is, quite simply, classic rock done extremely well. Catchy, heavy, technically impressive – what’s not to like?