The Change

This Swedish group's album starts off with an orchestrated introduction before moving into the rapid-fire guitar rock that mixes the Darkness with fellow Swedes the Hives. Lead singer Anton Klint sounds angry on "Up to You" but not in a nu-metal wailing fashion. It then winds itself up into an aggressive punk rock arrangement. "Worn Out" continues this framework but with more guitar work coming to the fore while Klint powers through the initial moments. However, it slows down with awful results. There is a blend of punk and rock, however sometimes it comes off less than perfect, especially on the frantic "Test of Time." Drummer Olle Bjork is the song's saving grace. The sonic gear-shifting is what the Change adhere to. "Kept in Check" is a prime example of the album's tone -- fast, slow, then rampant. With little variation between songs, the repetitive nature of the album is its own undoing at times. "My Last Breath" attempts to breathe fresh air, but it's rather bland despite the intensity of the performance. The fact '80s hair metal riffs are added for the finale is extremely bizarre, to say nothing of the orchestra accents. Only on "Call in Dead" does the first hint of melody come to fruition, resulting in the album's highlight. "This Is It," which might be a sly reference to the Strokes, finally delivers in spades -- a head-bobbing rock tune despite petering out just after a minute. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide