If you are a fan of the genre and if "Burn" had shaken your joints, you should definitely check out "Automaton" which will provide the same sensations with even more intensity. It is the balance found between all these elements which makes the identity of the quartet and it reaches here a certain paroxysm which positions it clearly as one of the most serious candidates for the title of album of the year in the hard-melodic field. Whether they are belligerent ('Together Whatever'), sharp and melodic like H.E.A.T.'s compatriots ('No Man's Land'), endowed with big riffs worthy of the Skid Row of the beginnings ('Resurrection Of The Damned') or spiced up with a few indus touches ('Shell Shock'), all the tracks show at the same time power, melody, worked verses and choruses taking everything away on their way. Crashdiet's hard-rock remains recognizable, whether it ventures on ultra-melodic lands ('Powerline', 'We Die Hard') or whether it sinks towards a powerful and uncompromising heavy metal ('Dead Crusade'). With "Automaton", the Scandinavians even seem to have raised the level of requirement with a flawless production, a renewed talent for unstoppable choruses, a Gabriel Keyes who shows a fabulous capacity to modulate his vocals to the service of each track, and a variety of stylistic approach never achieved at the expense of coherence. Indeed, it is impressive to notice how Martin Sweet's band manages to maintain a high level with each of its releases despite its instability of personnel. The now unavoidable change of personnel being realized, it is time to stop on another tradition of Crashdiet, that of the quality. Unfortunately, while he recorded all the parts of this new opus, it's drummer Eric Young's turn to leave (temporarily?) the Swedish quartet in which he is replaced by Lacu (ex Hanoi Rocks). Fourth singer in five albums, the frontman finally seems to stabilize a band that lacks less talent than balance. Fortunately, Gabriel Keyes is still in place behind the microphone after a "Rust" that hit hard when it was released. It has always been very complicated to start the presentation of a new Crashdiet album without first mentioning a line-up change.
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