The Wheel – The Wheel

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Norwegian newcomers The Wheel, much like fellow Scandinavians Graveyard, take their cues from the classic rock of old and attempt to bring the sound up to date. And, just like Graveyard, they’ve proven very successful at it with their self-titled debut album. Except where Graveyard dial back to the ’70s, The Wheel seem to be aiming more at the refined side of ’80s hard rock. In terms of stylistic comparisons, the closest approximation to The Wheel would probably be Chris Cornell singing Thunder, Gotthard and Whitesnake, although there’s not much trace of Van Halen, as official statements would suggest. Some tracks go entirely down the Whitesnake direction (Lost Souls), others entirely the way of Gotthard (Cry On The Night) and so on, but those four or so influences make up most of the sound. The winning factor throughout though is The Wheel’s ability to pen great songs, full of hooks and big, meaty riffs, mellow when required, and present them in a coherent manner across the album. They aren’t just copying their influences, which is the danger when your sound combines those of others, and many other young bands have fallen foul of doing just that. Instead they’re drawing on them to create their own music, and they possess all of the elements needed to move on from this point. And not a ballad in sight.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Hard Rock, Quick.Play Reviews, The Wheel