| The Poodles Sweet Trade | AFM Records |
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The Poodles stormed onto the scene along with Brother Firetribe and Wig Wam as a breath of fresh melodic air from Europe. On album number two the feedback has been mixed. I hear some don't like it as much and I hear others like it more. That's what happens when the formula of the debut is changed and that is what happened here. The band doesn't sound radically different or anything like that. But their sound has been toughened up and now sounds a little more European melodic metal than the debut album which featured a few different approaches with the song delivery. This album is tighter, more urgent and heavier…but left behind is a little of the variety and instant chorus melodies of the debut. Still, what we do have is another fine record filled with in your face uptempo melodic hard rockers as only the Scandinavian's can deliver. Something that attracted me to the band in the first place was their thumping rhythm and heavy beats and the opening three songs of Sweet Trade cash in on that again. The songs get better and better with repeat listens, but it is only seconds before the beats crash through the speakers and belt the listener about the head. Flesh And Blood and Streets Of Fire both rock with urgency, but it is the more melodic and anthemic Seven Seas which gives me chills. Other highlights are the barnstorming hard rock of the suitably titled Thunderball; the fast rocking but melodic Reach The Sky; the huge lighters-in-the-air ballad We Are One; the harmony filled melodic rock of Without You; the monstrous anthemic Band Of Brothers (brilliant and both songs more like the debut) and the balladesque anthem Shine which closes the album. Highlights as you can see are numerous and the production quality of the album is once again unquestionably great!
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02/05/09: Xavienthe - xavienthe@yahoo.com
13/06/08: gregg - gmcpa1@verizon.net
15/05/08: Art - redeemed1964@sbcglobal.net
04/04/08: Jeff - skipper@ca.ibm.com
04/04/08: RockMan - purjfo98@msn.com
Rating: 95
I think this is an exelent album. A worthy follower to the debut, in fact this one is a lot better. Metal Will Stand Tall was/is a really good album, but the real killer songs were few compared to this. I think that this is a pure hit parade, and I almost can't wait till the next album. And the vocals... One of the better in the hard-rock scene, with no doubt.
Rating: 92
Not as good as the debut, but a real solid release. These guys are one of the top bands around right now. "Shine & Streets of Fire" are my top tracks.
Rating: 95
Very solid from start to Finnish.I loved their 1st, and I love their 2nd. This one still has the hooks and big choruses they are known for. This band should be bigger than they are. A few bad breaks...a canceled UK festival, and the departure of their guitar player are downers, but I still think this is one of the best out there. I listen to it frequently as it's one that is deep enough that it gets better as it goes.
Rating: 90
Great #2 album! I had read the mixed reviews, but the samples didn't lie. Quality rock.
Rating: 88
There is a lot to enjoy on this CD if you don't try to compare it to the first. I loved the first and found this one to be a notch below because I absolutely love songs like, "Echos of the Past, Metal Will Stand Tall and Night of Passion." There seemed to be more experimenting with some of the progressions on this one. Still very good but not overwhelming.
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