Work of Art, Eclipse, and Talisman (R.I.P.) are three of the biggest bands in the melodic rock universe. They also happen to be labelmates at Frontiers Records. So leave it to the powers that be (Frontiers head Serafino Perugino) to devise a supergroup consisting of each band’s respective masterminds. The result is W.E.T. Featuring Work of Art’s Robert Säll, Eclipse’s Erik Mårtensson, and Talisman’s Jeff Scott Soto, W.E.T. has since grown from a one off side project to a full blown AOR juggernaut.
Retransmission sees W.E.T. return with another collection of songs that embody the best qualities of the member’s individual bands. While each band and artist are different in their own unique way, they’re bonded by the power of big, catchy, melodic rock à la 80s Foreigner. This can be heard loud and clear on cuts like “Big Boys Don’t Cry” and “You Better Believe It”. If there’s one thing W.E.T. knows how to do well, it’s how to write hard and hooky earworms.
Now since Eclipse is my favorite band of the bunch, of course my favorite songs are the ones that sound like lost Eclipse songs. In particular, these songs would be “The Moment of Truth”, “Beautiful Game”, and “One Final Kiss”. They feature those classic, hard hitting Mårtensson riffs: metallic, though without fully crossing the threshold into melodic metal territory. Add some mega synths and the powerful mid range of Jeff Scott Soto and voila. Speaking of Soto, is it me or is he sounding a lot like Joe Lynn Turner these days? This isn’t a bad thing. It’s just that if I didn’t know better, I’d think I was listening to Sunstorm.
The only moments on this album that don’t connect with me are the ones that veer into adult contemporary territory. Despite being only 21, there are some acts in this notoriously insipid genre I enjoy: Toto, Richard Marx, 80s Cher. Go ahead and revoke my metal card. That said, W.E.T.’s attempt at the style ranges between hit (“Coming Home”) and miss (“Got to Be About Love”, “What Are You Waiting For”). I feel that with a couple more Eclipse-esque rockers in their place, this could have been an even better album.
Minor complaints aside, Retransmission is a strong and sturdy offering of melodic rock from the genre’s finest. As long as Soto can sing his heart out, Mårtensson can churn out rocking riffs, and Säll can conjure magnificent melodies, there’s no reason W.E.T. won’t whet our AOR appetites for years to come.
7 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Eclipse, Foreigner, Sunstorm