Harem Scarem are definitely one of those bands that shoulda, coulda, woulda. Mood Swings and Voice Of Reason are two of my favourite melodic rock records. Mood Swings is a genre defining record, and when you consider that it came out in ´93 you can understand why no one outside of the melodic rock community heard it.
Fast forward to 2025 and here we have a new album comprised of ten songs, with the majority around the 3.30 mark in length, keeping them short and snappy in pop song territory. As you would expect, every song has a massive hook and chorus with vocal harmonies a plenty, but the album does seem to lack in the variety department and you do wonder if they are just giving “them” what they want here.
The song that shakes my tree the most is ironically the only one Harry does not sing lead vocal on, and that’s Gotta Keep Your Head On where Darren Smith takes the lead instead. It’s a great song with a nice riff and groove from Pete. They don’t make bad records and if you love the big hook and chorus then you will be like a pig in the mud.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
