Swede Matti Alfonzetti recorded his debut album under the Alfonzetti moniker 18 months back. The album was a beautifully crafted selection of melodic rockers, a definite highlight of 2000.Now he's back with album number two and this is a case of 'what the hell happened here?'Alfonzetti has dropped the sweet melodic rock and power AOR for a hard edged, effects filled modern rock outing that came as a huge surprise.
It was reported that this album was to be heavier and more guitar driven, but the degree of heaviness and the modern edge featured here is a big shock.
Throughout the record Matti uses vocal effects, drum loops, production tricks and an in your face production to up the tempo and make the sound every bit as contemporary as possible.
All this info might have already scared some readers off, but you know what. In spite of al these changes, Matti still knows how to write a bloody good song and this album contains 9 new ones.
Within each song there are audible melodies and plenty of catchy vocal lines and hooks. Just not ones similar to the debut!
The opening track has a punishing hard guitar riff, with some moments that almost touch on an industrial theme. My Machine rocks along with a monster swagger and huge rock attitude, but bursts into an anthemic melodic rock chorus that would have been right at home on the debut.
The mid-tempo'd rock ballad Welcome To My World features vocal effects, a psychedelic verse and then another big melodic rock chorus.