MERENDINE ATOMICHE

This is not what I expected from Italy's MERENDINE ATOMICHE. Basing my expectations for "Raw" on the mostly straight-up thrash metal of 2003's "Walk Across Fire", a revamping of the band's sound to one that is more modern and accessible took me aback. Once the initial shock wore off it quickly became apparent that while the change is significant, it is not total abandonment of the sound and the boys manage to pull it off. One can debate the motivations for such a move, but with Jack Frost assisting on production, the band's mixture of traditional metal, thrash, and hard rock with a strong sense of melody is pleasing to the ears and still boasts copious amounts of head banging goodness.

Though heavy riffing, hot solos, and tough rhythms are the majority combination here, the album's song collection is varied and never devoid of melody. Songs like "In the Cage", "I Want to be a Man", "Breathe the Big Apple", and the title track are skillfully written to balance heavy guitar rock and big attitude with a strong sense of melody. The faster and thrashier material ("Roads and Beers" and "Shake For Me") are not exactly devoid of tunefulness either. The album's lightest moment comes in the form of "Ocean's Shadows". While guitar-based, it maintains a measure of pop melody and dreaminess without sounding ill fitting or cheesy. An '80s rock swagger is apparent on "We Didn't Know", while the hard rock of "Zero Degrees" rides a heavy chug and features a particularly effective compositional switch during the solo. MERENDINE ATOMICHE brings it all together on "Peace Means War?" The act effectively builds from acoustic airiness to a more muscular delivery, the song's melody is moving, and the overall arrangement very well done. Vocalist Luca Zandarin may have a strange way of pronouncing common English words, but his ability to combine toughness with soaring melodies is impressive. Topping it all off is a mix that is crisp, clear, and crunchy.

It will be interesting to see where MERENDINE ATOMICHE goes next, considering how tricky it is to maintain a central heaviness and expand commercial viability. For now, "Raw" offers the listener an enjoyable ride. Rock radio should pay attention to this album.