Cruzh: self-titled

Is there no limit to the number of exciting young melodic rock bands Sweden can offer up? Here we have yet another rising star in Cruzh, who makes their full-length debut on the Frontiers label with this self-titled release.

Cruzh has the same kind of poppy, ultra-catchy melodic rock approach that works so well for bands like H.E.A.T. and Reckless Love. They take the classic sounds of Danger Danger and Def Leppard and somehow make it sound even more polished and infectious. It’s like they filtered Hysteria through rainbows and cotton candy. The Cruzh debut is all hooks and harmonies. Tony Andersson has a great voice for this kind of poppy melodic rock, and when the backing vocals kick in it’s pure magic.

If there’s a downside here, it’s probably that the ballads kill the party rock buzz a bit. That’s a minor gripe though, since the rest of the album is so enjoyable. They manage to take a pop approach to melodic rock without losing the rocking edge (like Reckless Love did). “In n’ Out of Love,” “Aim For the Head,” “Set Me Free” and “Before I Walk Alone” are all great examples of the Cruzh sound, but this album is loaded with great tunes.

If you like ultra-catchy melodic rock, whether it’s old (Def Leppard, Danger Danger) or new (H.E.A.T., Reckless Love, Degreed, Tempt), Cruzh may just be the best discovery you make in 2016.

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