Hydrogyn – Deadly Passions

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impulse buy

DR2
Produced by Jeff Westlake

Aptly named debut album Bombshell and live CD Strip ‘em Blind Live caused an immediate stir last year as an unsigned Hydrogyn made all the moves of an experienced band and managed to get people to take notice of them remarkably quickly.

The blatant pop-star-esque flaunting of attractive front-woman Julie Westlake (a calendar? Seriously?) is very disappointing, but their talent and songwriting deserves the attention they’re getting and the razor-sharp, high-speed and heavy riffs of opener Rejection should leave anyone in now doubt what they’re in for; pure, undiluted hard rock.

Every track has an instant and individual riff and, with just a couple of exceptions, good lyrics and vocal melodies. The full-on metal Rejection, title track Deadly Passions (think a heavier Keep The Faith era Bon Jovi) and Silent Animation are the picks of the bunch, with a few Girlschool-y moments on On And On and Your Life, and an Evanescence feel to Over U.

Technically the first of just two ballads Candles Light Your Face starts soft but even this spends most of its length behind heavy riffs and a wonderful solo. The second is Shadow, which is much more in the vein of the classic rock power ballad, and a damn good, rousing example of one it is as well. Perhaps an unlikely way to finish an otherwise heavy album, but after a few seconds of silence there’s a hidden track which is much more akin to the rest of the album and finishes it perfectly.

There are just a couple of flaws. The otherwise excellent Seroquil lets itself down with a terrible chorus of noises instead of words and the cover of Alanis Morrisette‘s You Oughta Know is weak. Identical to the original but with some heavier guitars relegated to the background it adds nothing to the album and even verges on sounding out of place.

Essentially anyone who enjoyed Bombshell, or bands like Benedictum, and genuine hard rock in general, is going to find a lot to appreciate amongst the big riffs, solos and choruses of Deadly Passions.

“ undiluted hard rock ”

Tracklist: Rejection / On And On / Your Life / Deadly Passions / You Oughta Know / Over U / Candles Light Your Face / Seroquil / Silent Animation / Shadow
Hidden Bonus Track: My Reality

Written by Andy Lye
More: Albums, Female-fronted, Hard Rock, Hydrogyn