It’s been four long years since Finnish sleaze rockers Reckless Love released ‘InVader’ (check out our interview with Olli about that album here) and on February 25th they return with their fifth studio album ‘Turborider’. Since that last album Reckless Love has received gold awards for their first three albums in Finland, and played places like Australia for the first time (one of the last international bands some of us saw before Australia closed its borders). If you want to see a band deliver and ‘own’ a room I suggest you check them out live at the first possible opportunity.
Reckless Love’s career has been one we’ve followed very closely at The Rockpit and from that very first album in 2010 we’ve caught up with the band with every release (not to mention this writer has also been religiously collecting their promo singles from the last decade) they’re a band of course that ticks all teh boxes – a blistering live show, huge charisma and a sound that manages that impossible task of capturing the best of Van Halen, 80’s Sunset Strip Rock and threading in a host of modern dance and synth wave sounds. It’s something that you might not think will work , but it does… beautifully. Add to that mix great riffs, infectious hooks and songs made to sing along to and you have a band that is simply unmissable.
So after a series of albums that have got progressively more synth infused over time this time out we are promised “High-energy, synth wave-infused rock with an undeniable 80’s touch. Fun? Check! Uplifting? Check! ‚Turborider‘ will make you forget the world around you and its infectious hooks will make you sing along all day.” Now that sounds just the thing we need in these troubled times. There’s also a nice retro gaming twist: “At the center of the sounds are 80s themes and the modern dark-speaking world of synth wave. The band dived deep into to the game world and the movie moods of the genre and era.”
It’s time to dive in…
Opening with the title track (and latest single) ‘Turborider’ which opens up with synths that are quickly dispatched by cutting metallic guitar, we’re delivered the perfect storm of hard edged rock, cruel beats and uplifting choruses that just sweep you up. It’s high energy, retro, shot through with computerized voices and has a sizzling solo. There’s no doubt about it Reckless Love is back and they look like they’re lost none of their fire and not lost a beat.
‘Eyes of a Maniac’ that follows is underlined with a bubbling synth and understated verse before a lush melodic chorus washes in on the back of a guitar, it’s one of the Poppiest songs here and an immediate contrast that might come as a surprise to newer listeners, whilst it may be different there is however a sumptuous solo to guide it along. It’s a song sandwiched between the other two singles as ‘Outrun’ and it’s blue summer sky rock kicks in next.
‘Kids of the Arcade’ is where all those retro flavors come together in a dayglo dream. First it adds a tight verse before the melody kick in a pre-chorus before the refrain rocks you gently in a Neon Glow. It’s a mid-tempo number that almost eschews hard rock until the solo kicks in. It’s one of those songs that if you’ve seen the band live you can imagine will take on a whole new life cranked up a notch or two.
The biggest surprise and riskiest move though is the next track ‘Bark at the Moon’ – yes it is THAT ‘Bark at the Moon’ but here its reimagined with hi hat prominent as well as a shuffling synth. It will be really interesting how this one will go down with Pepe nailing the iconic Jake E Lee guitar work and Olli of course far surpassing Ozzy vocally (never been a fan of OO’s voice). If you look at it from the band’s point of view its a great reference point that lays out what the band is trying to achieve her on ‘Turborider’ – that amalgam of the old and the new. Maybe if it was an Aerosmith song they’d chosen to refurbish I wouldn’t feel quite the same but for me it works.
Half way in I know some heads would have been turning at that last one!
My pet hate ‘the prelude’ – in this case 0.48 seconds of ‘Prelude (Flight Of The Cobra)’ is up next – it’s essentially a noodling guitar intro to ‘Like A Cobra’ a synth led mid-tempo pop rocker that at first didn’t grab me but it’s one of those that grows in stature with each listen. There’s a more Blue Sky feel-good vibe to ‘For The Love Of Good Times’ one of the catchiest songs here and one that will certainly test that dance floor, like a modern day AOR outing is strangely addictive.
One of my favourites leads the runs out – ”89 Sparkle’ has a real touch of vintage Reckless Love even if it does push the pop dial a little further than the guys have gone before; it’s a party song made for hot summer nights and ‘Future Lover Boy’ that follows keeps that thought and ups the beat, it’s another hot summer dance-along. The final word goes to ‘Prodigal Sons’ – maybe a title that gives a nod to how this album might go down with Rock fans? Its harder and edgier than anything else here and does make you wonder what the rest of the album would have sounded like with a spoon of this attitude. At the moment it might even be my pick of the bunch – it’s certainly an anthemic closer.
If you loved InVader you’ll love this. If you hanker after that sleazier sound then you might be torn. This is certainly a record that I feel will divide opinion. The real test for me will be how they treat this wonderful new material live.
8.5 / 10
TRACKLISTING: 01-Turborider 4:25 | 02-Eyes Of A Maniac 3:21 | 03-Outrun-Final 3:12 | 04-Kids Of The Arcade 3:35 | 05-Bark At The Moon 4:13 | 06-Prelude (Flight Of The Cobra) | 0:48 | 07-Like A Cobra 3:02 | 08-For The Love Of Good Times 3:03 | 09-’89 Sparkle 3:17 | 10-Future Lover Boy 3:03 | 11-Prodigal Sons-Final 3.18
RECKLESS LOVE’s fifth studio album ‚‘Turborider‘ will be released on February 25th 2022 – and besides Digipak and colored Vinyl, the band is offering something very special to their fans: The limited box set will include the Digipak CD, an autograph card and a handheld videogame!
