Stagnation is death. Change is life.
This is probably what the creators of STF Records thought as well. A label that has primarily made a name for itself through metal releases. In the metal genre, the label has positioned itself quite broadly. From death metal to gothic ballads to classic heavy metal, almost everything is included.
So I was quite surprised when I held the new record by BARONS BALL in my hands. The cover looks more like punk, or at least rock.
The first impression was not misleading. The first songs lean towards classic rock, although there are some pretty bad candidates among them. BARONS BALL are not that bad, so I take back my comment about classic rock and would rather say it's light hard rock or melodic rock. The melodies of hard rock are worked on with mass-compatible charm. Bon Jovi comes to mind as a reference, and that probably fits best.
The melodies are pleasant and catchy. The musicians show that they understand melodies and their development as well as song structures. In “It’s the worth the fight,” they really bring out the hard rock club, reminiscent of all the old classics. However, BARONS BALL manages not to come across like a cover band, but like a band that has breathed its own life into its songs.
However, the band also pays meticulous attention to not having too many rough edges. Or was the producer smoothing things over here?
Whoever it was, they did too much of a good thing. It's kind of like when I tell the hairdresser I want my hair shorter and end up getting a buzz cut. Principally correct, but off the mark.
The eleven songs are so polished that you want to grab the guys and ask if they want to play the new soundtrack for Lenor or Kuschelweich.
BARONS BALL surely have some people behind them with this sound. It’s the sound that a social worker can listen to without belonging to a subculture. It’s the rock of the suburbs. I don’t mean to demonize classic rock or hard rock, as there are some really good bands in that genre, but BARONS BALL are not among them.
The signs are good, but the cover, the lettering, none of it fits the band. It’s a masquerade. It doesn’t help that singer Helena Schmitz supports the band in “One by One.” While some rounding elements come through, and the guitar wonderfully works the tear ducts, a good song does not make a good album.
BARONS BALL are certainly not a bad band, but they are not yet ready for the rock league. More of their own character would do the band good.
