Gotthard – Gotthard

I was asked to listen and review the first Gotthard album, though it was all I could do to get through it once, as I’m far from a metal fan.

Why a “hard rock metal” band would take its name from Saint Gotthard, famous for reforming the Catholic church is beyond me, ‘less of course it’s some sort of tongue in cheek joke, is beyond me. Others have claimed that the band took their name from the Gotthard Tunnel, a project the Swiss are very proud of That said there were so many bands who ventured down this avenue that it’s not even funny, with all of them to me sounding entirely interchangeable … simply consider White Snake, Journey, Bonfire, Mötley Crüe or any number of American MTV derivative video bands best known for their metal ballads.

Sure, Gotthard is from Switzerland, so perhaps they weren’t in on the “Got Hard” humor surrounding their name, but hey, I’m sure many an American band’s name may sound humorous in a foreign language. Nevertheless, the driving force being Gotthard was lead singer Steve Lee who was killed in a freak motorcycle accident while touring the States, where for years the band tried desperately to imitate his raspy and often high pitched vocals, before they were able to settle in and embrace their new frontman and all he had to offer; though if anything stood out from this collection of songs, it was their cover of the number “Hush” by Deep Purple (with the video being nothing more than soft underwear porn).

While talking with other likeminded metal fans, I was struck by their insistence that Gotthard’s music was beautiful, intricate and filled with a sense of drama, though no one could tell me if this drama was real or simply part of their stage persona. Others have gone on to say that some of their most profound work can be found right here, making me wonder what it was about my personality that allowed me to so easily dismiss metal music as nothing more than mania exemplified, as to my ears, all of it sounded the same, never relaxing, never embracing and never communal. With that in mind, I being down the beach in New Jersey with some friends, one who was a DJ on a rather famous radio station, when he and his wife informed me that they were huge Gotthard fans, to which I said, “Get the f#@k out of here, no one is a Gotthard fan,” thinking it was just the hazy blue smoke talking, that they were having me on, but they were serious, so I’ve learned not to criticize other people’s taste in music.

Historically, Gotthard were probably the best band out of Switzerland since Krokus (which oddly enough is German for crocus, a flower common throughout Europe), and that they stood on equal footing in the European Union with AC/DC. Gotthard’s songs are big production numbers, over the top, filled with a steady driving metronomic rhythm, delivering a take no prisoners full frontal assault; though I would have to say that Gotthard have perfected a majestic style of aggressive melodic rock. This brings me to an aspect I’d not considered, that being that unlike many metal bands, the music and attitude of Gotthard was calculated to be entirely commercial, leading me to believe that there are countries where varying degrees of hard rock and metal rule the airwaves, just hoping to have a bit of fun and celebration.

So, I’m not, but if you’re in need of a commercialized nuclear blast, Gottard will certainly take you where you want to go.

Review by Jenell Kesler