Hands up if you're a fan of Finnish sleaze-rockers Reckless Love and expected them to cite the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears as influences on their new album? If your digits are raised, and you also claim to be unsurprised at them integrating some hip-hop into their ‘80s melodic rock and metal mix, it's likely your leopard print pants are well and truly on fire right about now.
If that sounds like a bad reinvention for these boisterous Scandinavians, then fear not. They're certainly thrusting outside their comfort zone on this fourth album, but their anthemic edge is still as potent as ever. We Are The Weekend and Monster are both cut from the same cloth as Spears and the Backstreet Boys’ ‘90s efforts, but their robotic, punchy pop-funk grooves sound much more powerful and feisty when played by attitude-drenched rock guitars.
More surprising, but equally effective, are the crossover rock-rap tracks Pretty Boy Swagger and Rock It (which sounds like the Kid Rock and Eminem duet Fuck Off). Both blend well by moving from strutting hip-hop inspired verses to soaring choruses, where a slightly different electro-pop vibe still delivers the requisite uplift.
Quite how die hard ‘80s rockers will react to these tracks is debatable, as most have a pathological hatred of rap that's second only to grunge. But no matter how far they seem to be straying, the band always gravitate back to deliver the kind of knockout choruses they excel at, while the ripping axe work of Pepe is typically exceptional no matter what he's playing.
There are also some more familiar cuts too. Destiny and Keep It Up All Night are pure melodic rock ear candy, while the storming high octane riffery and gripping, dramatic chorus of Bullettime is sublimely heavy. Let's Get Cracking, meanwhile, sounds like a pissed up brawl between Motley Crue and Van Halen and the thumping Hands, which pinches its refrain from Nickelback's Burn It To The Ground, is a concert fave in the making.
Due to all the different styles on this record, listening to it is a bit like looking at Frakenstein's monster. For example, there are two out and out pop songs that seem totally out of place. While Child Of The Sun is a shimmering jewel, Scandinavian Girls is this record's nadir. Although not as dreadful as Coconuts, its cheesy sentiments are unsuitable for anyone with an IQ higher than the average house plant.
Creating a cohesive record with meaningful lyrics that extend beyond sex and partying is about as high on Reckless Love's list of priorities as attaining a doctorate in astrophysics. Like all their records, 'InVader' is an escapist slab of carefree fun that doesn't take itself too seriously. Although not matching the heights of 2013’s 'Spirit', it's a more than admirable follow up with fresh textures that might tattoo themselves under your skin if given time.
Reckless Love Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Sat March 12 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Thu March 31 2016 - LONDON Scala
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