Review | W.E.T. – Apex

Frontiers Music Srl

Ever since their first album that came out in 2009 the musicians of W.E.T. had to juggle their agendas to find time for further chapters in the group’s history. All involved musicians have their own bands and projects. So, in about sixteen years it is no real surprise that Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Erik Mårtensson, Magnus Eriksson and Robert Sall only managed four studio-albums as they have been busy with lots of bands and projects. W.E.T. has been called a super group from the very start and that is not so strange when you look at the careers of the musicians.

Robert has been the main force behind Work Of Art and made several albums with FM’s Steve Overland. Erik and Magnus have been mainly busy with Eclipse with Erik taking on several production jobs as well. While Jeff has hardly been out of the limelight since the demise of Talisman, participating in Sons Of Apollo, solo-albums and his own band Soto plus guesting on other records.

A FOUR-YEAR HIATUS

W.E.T. has had a four-year hiatus as their last album ‘Retransmission’ came out in early 2021. That record was pretty good although I found that the sound of the group had grown closer and closer to Eclipse. Mainly because of the production of Mårtensson. W.E.T.’s music had developed into an arena rock sound and had gone away from the fresh and melodic sound of the earlier albums. The surprise had worn off and I thought that a change of producer might be a good idea. To put someone in with a refreshed look at things, someone who could put some different accents on the music.

NO CHANGES

That has not happened. Mårtensson again produced the record. In a nutshell, there have been no changes except maybe for the fact that the very experienced Jamie Borger (Talisman, Treat, Swedish Erotica) sat behind the drums this time (with again Andreas Passmark on bass). Borger with his excellent playing has added more dynamics to the total package. But as for the style and song material it is safe to say that the band stuck to their guns. That means that you can expect a bunch of passionate up-tempo rock songs such as ,,House Is On Fire’’ (could have been an Eclipse song), ,,Pay Dirt’’ and ,,Nowhere To Run’’ (a nice vocal duet between Soto and Mårtensson), an obligate couple of power ballads called ,,Love Conquers All’’ and ,,Power & Pain’’ and several in-betweeners. Good but slightly predictable.

W.E.T. – THE CONCLUSION

If you are into the older material of W.E.T., Eclipse and even Talisman I guess ‘Apex’ will be to your liking. But any connection to Work Of Art except for the presence of Robert Sall is totally lost. What gives the album still a thumbs up are the energetic performances of the musicians involved. With Soto singing you can hardly go wrong either. But I can not escape the feeling that W.E.T. is going through the motions a bit here. I have not heard too many songs that made me sit up and take (extra) notice. Have a listen and judge for yourself.

Release date: 28 March 2025