"Liberation" is the second demo from Danish Hard Rockers
Nice Try. Compared to their first demo "Your Life" their new material is a bit tougher and heavier with more domination of electric guitars.
Nice Try's inspirations are rooted in the 80's Hair bands and they combine the 80's legacy with a twist of modern style.
The six-track demo opens with
What if?, which understates the main ingredient to the music of
Nice Try namely melody. After a mellow verse the chorus kicks into a melodic rhythm with thoughtful lyrics.
This Love starts with a melodic guitar riff only to be replaced with a groovy rhythm. After the first chorus guitarist Troels Brosbol plays it a bit heavier and his solo on
This Love ranks among his best ever.
This Love ends with the guitar playing the melody line in unison with lead singer Thom and backing vocals.
Everything comes together on
This Love, where the boys once again prove their ability to write a melodic song with a killer sing-along chorus without losing a groovy and heavy musical approach. This is definitely my favorite track on "Liberation".
The heavy and groovy style continues on
Cleopatra's Eyes.
Cleopatra's Eyes has not captured me the same way as the other songs on "Liberation". Its seems like the heavy approach is at expense of melody - especially the chorus could have been stronger. For old fans of the Danish Hard Rock band Fate, there is a clear reference leading to the guitar solo.
A crunchy guitar riff drives the title track, while
Searching for Answers' signature riff pays tribute to the late Steve Clark from Def Leppard, since it sounds very alike Steve Clark writing and playing style.
Searching for Answers is simply a fantastic song, which I have had as live favorite for almost 2 years now.
Nice Try do the old trick with a "hidden" bonus track a minute after
Searching for Answers.
The Perfect Alibi is a riff-based song where singer Thom almost raps the lyrics. The verse might be a little different compared to the other tracks, but the chorus is the reconciling melodic element.
Please notice that since I know these guys personally I might be a little biased. However, part of the high grade is justified from the fact that I have had so long to get into the "Liberation" songs. Basically I lived with 4 of the 6 songs for more than 18 months. Still they rock and I am almost about to label them as timeless songs. Album highlight
This Love is a new song, which leaves high expectations for the future of the band.
Since this is a demo the sound quality is as what you expect from a demo. There has been an improvement compared to their last demo.
Nice Try seem to have a tendency to include mellow middle plays. It works perfectly on
Liberation and
This Love, but I think that it ruins the Heavy flow of
Cleopatra's Eyes.
Nice Try sound better live in concert. Singer Thom seems a little restricted by being in the studio. Especially
Searching for Answers lacks a little feeling and identifies one with the lyrics. That being said, I think that his vocals sound great and certainly a thing that differentiates
Nice Try among other bands within this style.
This is the highest grade I ever given a demo, but "Liberation" certainly hits bulls eye on my soft spot for melodic hard Rock.
Written by
Michael Tuesday, December 16, 2003
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