Anniken – Climb Out of Hell
Release Date: 13th May 2022
Label: Rockshots Records
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Genre: Melodic Metal, Hard Rock.
FFO: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Linkin Park, Pink, Bon Jovi.
Review By: Mark Waight
Climb Out of Hell is the superb debut solo album from Anniken, who is better known for her work with Norwegian metal band Darkest Sins. The band are Anniken (vocals), Marius Danielsen (guitars/bass) and Allesandro Kelvin (drums) along with a whole host of other collaborators on each track. The album ticks all the right boxes to create a modern melodic metal album with some fast tracks, some slow tracks, lovely clean vocals and harmonies, some occasional growls, along with the obligatory guitar solos, which are all executed to perfection, by a who’s who list of some of the best axemen of the modern metal scene.
The album opens with classic hard vibes in Spotlight, which also contains a great guitar solo from Gabriels. Following this is the title-track, Climb Out of Hell, with a catchy chorus line and very slick guitar solo from Bill Hudson.
Back Then is a slower and softer, melancholy track with some lovely guitar work from Nick Giannakos that really enhances the mood. Just Walk is my favourite cut, with its swift changes in tempo, vocal harmonies and Fredrik Enochson’s excellent guitar playing. Keep the Light keeps it going, containing some great vocal harmonies, but this time with some added growls by Brandon Bordman.
Star is a much slower and softer track which highlights Anniken’s beautiful voice complimented by a fitting guitar solo from Jimmy Hedlund. No Name speeds thing up again with its galloping drums and an absolutely screaming guitar solo from Nils Courbaron. Save Us reminds me of a Bon Jovi styled rock anthem, right down to the epic guitar solo from Marius Danielson.
Closing track, Amplified, gives the album a final mood change, bringing dark synths and heavy bass from Marius Danielson, awesome guitar work from Terry Wapram and added growls from Brandon Bordman, finishing the whole thing off on a high.
This album is great from start to finish, highly polished and Anniken’s vocals are spot on. I have pre-ordered a copy of it myself!
(4 / 5)
