W.E.T: Retransmission (Frontiers, 2021)

We’re only three weeks into January, but melodic rock supergroup W.E.T has already kicked off 2021 with an album of the year contender. The band is, of course, built around vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (do we really need to list his credits), guitarist/vocalist/bassist/songwriter/producer Erik Martensson (Eclipse) and keyboardist Robert Sall (Work Of Art). It also features Eclipse alumni Magnus Henriksson and Robban Back, plus bassist Andreas Passmark (Royal Hunt). Essentially melodic rock royalty, so when they release a new album, you have to take notice.

W.E.T’s latest album is titled Retransmission, and it’s a more than worthy follow-up to 2018’s Earthrage. They didn’t mess with the formula here, which is fine since the formula has ruled since 2009. Ultra-catchy melodic rock that never goes too far into AOR or hard rock territory is always fun, especially when it comes from such masters of the sound. It’s all about unforgettable Sall and Martensson melodies, Soto’s gigantic voice and some of the best vocal harmonies in melodic rock. It would have been great to get a couple songs like “Watch The Fire” from Earthrage where Soto and Martensson shared lead vocal duties, but that’s a minor complaint.

We’ve had a month or two to spend with Retransmission’s advance tracks “Big Boys Don’t Cry” and “Got To Be About Love,” so they already feel like old favorites. The latter is definitely one of the album’s best tracks, as are “The Moment Of Truth,” the very Eclipse-sounding “Beautiful Game” and “Coming Home,” and “You Better Believe It,” which channels the best elements of the latest Eclipse and Work Of Art albums. The whole album is first class though, with no skippable tracks to be found.

Yeah, it’s only January, but Retransmission is THE melodic rock album of 2021, and it’s going to take something truly amazing to overtake it. At a time when it seems easier than ever to get jaded about the music scene, W.E.T comes along and reminds us just what it is we love about melodic rock in the first place. The energy, the chemistry, the atmosphere – Retransmission captures it all perfectly. Do not let this one pass you by.