STALA & SO. – It Is So
Lighter fare here from this Finnish quintet. The debut album “It Is So” contains 12 songs of glam oriented melodic hard rock, featuring members of Lordi and ex-Hanoi Rocks in their ranks. Sweet and the American Sunset Strip scene like Babylon A.D. come to mind on such catchy material as “One Nite Stand”, the Journey-esque “Pamela” and the lower bass propelled “Woman”.
Those who love strong multi-part harmonies in their vocals should savor an acoustic ballad like “Spring Romance” – as charismatic singer Stala feels comfortable from this position of emotional and tender content which includes a strong string accompaniment. National Eurovision finalists, Stala & So. have all the right tools for longevity in this business – killer hooks, quick hitting material and confidence to keep the emphasis about the songs.
2011 may go down as the year that hard rock asserted itself as no longer the throwback genre – “It Is So” is another diamond for the scene.