Review | Gotthard – Stereo Crush

Reigning Phoenix Music

The last Gotthard album ‘#13’ (released in 2020) was for me a bit disappointing as there were a few songs there that just did not do it for me. I only found half of the songs worthy of Gotthard. The Swiss outfit took close to four/five years to work on a new record, although band leader and guitarist Leo Leoni in between did some other projects such as Coreleoni. Have they used the last couple of years to create a new hard rocking and highly convincing album again?

A PROMISING START

With the furious rocking track ,,AI & I’’ Gotthard shoots straight from the hip as the song is hard, energetic, up-tempo and crunchy with singer Nic Maeder belting it out. It is a promising start! ,,Thunder And Lightning’’ is a more modest type of rock song followed by ,,Rusty Rose’’ and to be honest already during this mid-tempo track with a good solo I am starting to get doubts. Where is this album going to lead us?

Is Gotthard going to come up with a few balls to the wall songs in the vein of an oldie ,,Downtown’’? ,,Burning Bridges’’ is certainly not a heavy rocker but a nice sensible track where Nic Maeder proves yet again that he got a great voice able to sing a good ballad. Not bad at all. But then we get a The Beatles cover with ,,Drive My Car’’. Okay, at least played a bit heavier in comparison with the original, but it makes me raise my eyebrows….

OPEN MOUTH

The next track ,,Boom Boom’’ leaves me with an open mouth. Yes, it rocks and is up-tempo but it is so simple and predictable. And in the middle a fucking keyboard solo…  What is going on here boys? ,,Life’’ is again a sentimental ballad, slightly too soppy perhaps but again Nic Maeder saves the day with his soulful performance.

GOTTHARD – THE CONCLUSION

It is very clear to me that on ‘Stereo Crush’ Gotthard has ignored their rock focus for at least fifty percent or maybe even more. Instead, they have prioritised emotion and sensitivity which is not a bad thing but maybe not when you are Gotthard. The rest of the album is okay with the exception of closer ,,These Are The Days’’ where a harmonica leads the way. I must conclude that Gotthard with this album is trying to reach out to a new audience perhaps. But fact is that Gotthard has failed to win me over. Good musicianship, great singer etcetera, but except for opener ,,AI & I’’ ‘Stereo Crush’ lacks balls and attitude! In the old days the band always included a ballad and lots of melody in the repertoire, but the balance has shifted a bit too much and too far!

Release date: 21 March 2025