Album Review: Oliver Monroe - "petrichor"
An ode to 80s classic rock
Tracklist
- All I’ve Got To Say
- Love Ain’t Easy
- Is This Goodbye
- One In A Million
- Love Of My Life
- I Was Not Your King
- Dead Man Walking
- Ocean Blue Eyes
- Hey hey hey
- Tears In Her Eyes
- Is This Goodbye (Unplugged)
Review
Hailing from Munich, Germany Oliver Monroe is a singer/songwriter inspired by acts like KISS and Van Halen. Monroe mix, masters, and produces his music as well, with his latest album, “petrichor” out now!
The album introduces itself with “All I’ve Got To Say” quickly showcasing booming drums, melodic piano, bright organs, and gentle singing. Oliver Monroe establishes an 80s-esque rock sound with emphasized vocal hooks, and catchy instrumental melodies. Intertwining ballads with energetic rock ‘n’ roll, “All I’ve Got To Say” displays an attractive sound from the get-go.
“Love Ain’t Easy” starts off with electronic beats and reverbed guitar that creates an almost western atmosphere. With a mellower sound, the track bursts into a dynamic chorus with choir vocals creating an upbeat sound that provides an excellent sense of contrast. Twangy guitar notes show a clear country influence while staying true to the rock-ballad sound thus far.
The 3rd song “Is This Goodbye” takes on a melancholy sound while still balancing an anthemic chorus with soaring vocals and bright melodies. Oliver Monroe does an expert job of paying homage to the sounds of 80s rock while still forming a unique sound that utilizes the clarity of modern production. After a technical guitar solo, the song ends in a final stadium-worthy chorus.
“One In A Million” turns up the heat, debuting a more upbeat, classic rock style. Oliver Monroe does an excellent job of keeping the listener engaged with versatile musical influences and an array of different energy levels from song to song. “One In A Million” flows into an epic shredding guitar solo to close the track.
Bringing back the piano from earlier in the album “Love Of My Love” reintroduces the ballad style as strong singing, distant strings, and piano chords create a melodic backbone for the track. Electric guitar is brought into the mix as jazz-inspired grooving drum rhythms show off impressive musicianship. Picking up the pace as the song continues, ”Love Of My Life” is a slow-building yet electrifying rock ballad.
“I Was Not Your King” bursts into action with a funky drum beat and rythmic guitar as Oliver Monroe’s vocals build up before launching into the song’s exciting chorus. Bouncing synths and unique drum tones create a fresh sound in “I Was Not Your King” adding even more elements to differentiate songs and keep things interesting.
“Dead Man Walking” debuts the heaviest sound of the album, with a style more akin to old-school heavy metal as guitar chugging, thrashing riffs, and dramatic vocals take the stage. Reminding of bands like Iron Maiden “Dead Man Walking” showcases a harder sound for Oliver Monroe, showing complexity and more variety in the album. One of our favorite tracks off the album so far, “Dead Man Walking” is a powerful ode to classic heavy metal.
“Ocean Blue Eyes” brings back a melodic rock sound as syncopated guitar chords, bright leads, and gentle melodies lead the listener towards a dynamic chorus. Clapping seamlessly transitions between sections and builds excitement as Oliver Monroe moves into a softer yet equally energetic sound.
The 9th track “Hey hey hey” starts with a funk guitar riff before introducing an electronic driven genre-bending sound. Electric guitar works with dramatic dance beats to create a powerful mix of soud that is unique to the album, are further varying the musical style so far. After a wah wah solo, “Hey hey hey” catapaults into a final danceable chorus.
“Tears In Her Eyes” begins with a droning synth and clean guitar melodies that craft a deeply complex and melancholy-tinged atmospere. As the name suggests, “Tears In Her Eyes” is a mellower song with sad undertones. The song’s chorus features multiple vocal harmonies, creating a strong soundscape filled with melody and emotion.
Ending on a gentler note, Oliver Monroe returns to an acoustic remix of earlier track “Is This Goodbye”. As one of the catchiest songs of the album, “Is This Goodbye (Unplugged)” is the perfect way to fade out “petrichor” as gentle vocals, acoustic guitar, and orchestral strings slow the pace gradually.
Oliver Monroe’s “petrichor” is a defiant exhibition of classic rock and heavy metal. The album creates a nostalgic, classic 80s era sound while also using modern music production to create a crystal clear and distinct sound. Fans of rock, metal, and 80s/90s music will certainly enjoy “petrichor” out on all streaming platforms now!
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