HYDRA – Point Break

This one nearly got away from my pile of stuff to review, so before that warped brain of mine forgets completely, I should probably write a few short and concise lines about this eleven-track effort, right? Melodic rockers Hydra from Sweden are a relatively new band and also a new addition to Frontiers Records’ ever-growing arsenal of AOR outfits. Musically and stylistically speaking, Point Break is a polished and slick-sounding slab of accessible rock performed by prodigious talents and respected musicians (the skilled Daniel Flores handles the drums and keyboards here). All of that sounds great on paper, but the thing is that the compositions lack staying power and that all-important ability to captivate or engage the listener. Very few tracks truly stand out despite some good melodies and strong choruses popping up at regular intervals, and a substantial amount of the material simply comes across as rather predictable, formulaic, and musically safe with hardly any surprises in store for the listener. Also, a little more feeling, groove, and dynamics would have done wonders for this offering. Having said that, ‘Suspicious’ and ‘Never be the Same’ are good and appealing tunes that deserve a listen, so make a note of those two if melodic rock is your thing.