EXTREME – SIX

It’s been fifteen years since the latest album by Boston rockers Extreme? Have they changed a lot? Well, it all begins with “Rise”, highly energetic riffs, melodic vocals in close harmonies, and a Nuno Bettencourt guitar solo in part resembling an angry bee. Other distinguished songs are the acoustically driven pop-rock “Other side of the rainbow”, campfire tune “Small town beautiful”, the semi-gothic boogie “The mask”, synth-heavy “Thicker than blood”, the calypso feel of “Beautiful girls” and not least “Hurricane”, which is a “More than words” for the new millennium. Complete with vocal harmonies and strings, the latter brings goose-pimples for sure. Then it all ends sympathetically with the highly emphatic “Here’s to the losers”. All in all, “Six” offers few surprises, but neverthless is a fine record indeed, incorporating all the attention for efficient detail which has always been synonymous with this foursome. However, as entertaining as “Pornograffitti” (1990) or the previous “Saudades de rock” (2008) it ain’t. Artist: Extreme Album name: Six Score: 7/10 Label: Ear Music Release date: 9 June 2023 Favourite songs: Rise, Hurricane