Stargazer has been carrying the torch for
Norwegian hard rock since 2008. Formed out of a shared passion for melodic
power and anthemic choruses, the band has grown from their self-titled debut in
2009 through “The Sky Is The Limit” in 2019 and “Life Will Never Be The Same”
in 2023. Over the years, they’ve brought their high-energy rock sound to stages
across Europe, joining bills with legends like Saxon,
Uriah Heep, and Glenn
Hughes. Now, with their fourth studio release, “Stone Cold Creature”, Stargazer delivers what might be their most direct
and stadium-ready album yet.
Produced by
Soren Andersen, the sound is big and
unashamedly heavy. The guitars hit with thunderous riffs, lifted by soaring
vocals and underpinned by a steady rhythm section that drives each track
forward. “Make A Deal With The Devil” starts the album with a punchy blast of
hard rock energy, while the title track “Stone Cold Creature” plants itself
firmly as an instant anthem with its sing-along chorus and cutting guitar
lines. Songs like “Burning Up Inside” and “Screams Break The Silence” keep the
intensity high, striking with compact arrangements and memorable hooks.
The album doesn’t only stay on one speed. Tracks such as “New Hope” and “I Need You Now (More Than Ever)” bring in more melodic textures, letting the keyboards add a dramatic edge. By the time “Riding Through The Night” closes the set, Stargazer has delivered a complete hard rock ride, balancing power, melody, and a touch of grandeur. Not to forget the instrumental “Ice Walker” and its delightful shredding.
“Stone Cold
Creature” is very much an album built for the stage. Every chorus feels like it
was written to echo through a festival crowd, and every solo carries that
classic arena-rock charge. Stargazer has
always thrived on energy and big hooks, and here they channel those strengths
into an album that will connect instantly hard ‘n heavy, hard rock and especially
Whitesnake, Dokken etc fans. One of the best albums of the year and the genre
of this year.
Score: 8.8
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