Album Review

Eye – 2 Hearts

• 25th Aug 2009

Old-school rockers to the bone, Eye hail from Sweden, which is a bit of an unfortunate combo – any situation where you’re likely to be in the shadow of hair metal punchlines Europe is inherently a bit unfortunate. However, this mini-album shows plenty of promise from the quintet. First song “2 Hearts (Lovers Apart)” heralds a succession of 80s-style bigness ala, say, Journey or early Bon Jovi, with singer Oz Osukaru recalling Sebastian Bach on blazing form, waily histrionics and all.

Instrumentally as well, Eye don’t miss a trick, it’s all there: overdriven guitars that crunch and squeal about, dramatic keyboard riffage and stadium-sized half-time drumming. Every track is generously endowed with anthemic chorus hooks that’ll take you back to days of big hair and bigger egos, and there’s even the odd solo chucked in (rude not to).

All in all, this is a barnstorming melodic rock record that’s pitch perfect as a yearning tribute to the stadium rock of yore, whether or not it’s outstanding enough to carve out an importance of its own only time will tell.