W.E.T.: Rise Up

When W.E.T. descended on the melodic rock world back in 2009, there was talk of yet another label led project with the band's moniker actually borrowing its letters from the members "day-jobs". So as they say in the best episodes of Sesame Street, today's show was brought to us by the letters W (Robert Sall of Work Of Art), E (Eclipse, the band of Erik Martensson) and T (for Talisman, the one-time band of Jess Scott Soto (evidently W.E.JSS. isn't quite as catchy...)). That self titled debut however hit hard in a way that I'd argue not one of the over populated Frontiers Records projects ever had before. The end results being one of the best melodic hard rock albums this millennium has thrown out. However if W.E.T. the album was good, then take two, Rise Up is, put simply, brilliant and to go back to the streets of Sesame-francisco (although I may be mixing my TV metaphors there?) this time it is brought to us by the numbers 5 out of 5. In isolation Sall, Martensson and Soto are amongst the most sought after performers and writers in the current melodic rock scene, adding their talents to countless albums and live/stage shows over the past few years. Together however the proverbial gold has been struck and in all seriousness I have to ask if there isn't a case for the three of them making this act their number one priority for the foreseeable future.

Right from the off, opening track "Walk Away" announces that W.E.T. have something special on their hands, a brooding riff laying the base for an ultra melodic, yet still super-punchy chorus to have you fisting the air and singing for all your worth. Soto is bang on form, using every ounce of the immense vocal power he has, without ever sounding like he's reaching for a note, or pausing for breath. However "Learn To Live" runs it close, this time vocal harmonies and trade off's from Soto and Martensson tearing along at breakneck speed, before the album's title track reveals the best latter day Paul Stanley, Kiss-like offering I've heard for years. The guitars on all three spit and burn, but the keyboards glisten and shimmer with melodic intent, while the vocals are simply set for stun. From there the standard doesn't drop. Not once, not even close, with "What You Want" being one of those mid-paced throb-alongs that most bands simply fail to deliver with. Here however it pulsates into another highlight, while "Love Heals" proves that this band can even breathe new life into the power ballad.

It doesn't end there, "Still Unbroken" whirls and swoops with a Euro-hard-rock groove, "Bad Boy" careens and cavorts in a way Journey would sack their singer for (how they dumped on JSS I'll never know), "Shot" adds a little mature gravitas and so it goes from track one through track twelve, without even one song coming close to clunkersville.

W.E.T. have delivered, it's time to Rise Up in their name and help them claim the melodic rock crown that their music so richly deserves. It's not even April yet and I've found my MHR album of the year, no question!

Track Listing
1. Walk Away
2. Learn To Live Again
3. Rise Up
4. Love Heals
5. What You Want
6. The Moment
7. Bad Boy
8. On The Run
9. Broken Wings
10. Shot
11. Still Believe In Us
12. Still Unbroken

Added: March 25th 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: W.E.T. at JeffScottSoto.com
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Language: english

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