Apparently Robert Olsson (bass, lead vocals), Henric Hermansson (guitar) and David Olsson (drums) grew up in the same area of a small town in Sweden, and by the age of nine they decided that they were going to form a band together even though at the time only two had instruments. That was back in 1998, and some fifteen years after the event they are here with their debut album. One has to admire the tenacity it has taken to get to this point, as most people have no idea what they really want to do when they are nine years old, let alone pursuing it like these guys obviously have. The biography mentions influences such as Coldplay, Rush, Black Country Communion and Subsignal, but to be honest there is just one name that you need to know, Muse.
To say that these guys have been influenced by Muse is like saying that the pope is Catholic. True, they have tried to put in some slower sections that contain much more restraint, something like Coldplay without the keyboards, but it is obvious where their hearts rely lie. Robert Olsson has a great voice, and he can get incredibly high when he wants to, but for the most part this is about building emotion with powerful layers and crunching guitars. Given that they have played together for more than half of their lifetimes it is no surprise at all that they are incredibly tight, and that there is a real purpose to what they are doing.
If you enjoy Muse and are looking for something that has been influenced by their earlier material then look no further as this is for you.
www.benesser.se
