Blog Post
Cruzh - 'The Jungle Revolution' Released March 22, 2024 Frontiers Music
Album Review by Martin Goulden • Mar 08, 2024
Like most of what is currently turning heads across the Melodic Rock Scene, it will come as no surprise that Sweden once again spawns this huge slice of 'Mel'Rock' heaven with the latest offering from Cruzh... with larger than life riffage throughout, blistering solo's, a banging rhythm section, scorching vocals all packaged up in what will be unleashed as 'The Jungle Revolution'.
'The Jungle Revolution' is the second album to feature former 'Reach' Vocalist Alex Waghorn at the helm alongside band stalwarts Dennis Butabi Borg, Mattias Silfver and Anton Joensson. Cruzh are now joined by guitarist Johan Öberg to aid and abet in the delivery of a twin guitar onslaught of over the top and larger than life 'Hooks, Licks and other Tricks' pushing an edgier and ballsier drive to the sound.
Descending onto this world over a decade ago from the spoils of Glam Rock outfit TrashQueen, Messrs Borg and Joennson and former Singer/Keys player Tony Andersson proclaimed Cruzh to the masses, an early days EP titled ‘Hard to Get’ a Frontiers Music signing followed in 2015, a self-titled debut album release in 2016, a somewhat lengthy 6 year wait for follow up ‘ Tropical Thunder’ in 2022… which brings us neatly onto album number three for 2024.
2 Singles have been teased and released from the album already with 'FL89', an anthemic party rocking foot tapper reminding us of what the 80's was really like...ahh happy days, 'Angel Dust' the more recent of the releases and a real stomping lead riff on this track, two great appetisers to get the Jungle Juices flowing for the album release....
The Album Kicks off with title track 'The Jungle Revolution' very much akin to a Def Leppard'esq feel on this opener, the big licks, the big hooks, the big chorus' sets this album at a reasonable pace 'Angel Dust' just raises that pace even further and perhaps could have armed wrestled its way as the album lead tune, this 11-track wonder dispatches a plethora of Melodic Marvelment throughout a 50 minute listening pleasure, with a slaying of Hard n Heavy Guitar Goodness on tracks such as 'Split Personality' & 'Gimme Anarchy' this is very much a Yin and Yang album, as complimenting the Untamed Beasts of those hard hitting charmers, we have the Tamed and Controlled yet equally gratifying offerings such as 'Killing in the Name of Love', 'At the Radio Station' and 'Winner' of course every album needs a drop in pace and there's always room for the obligatory ballad, in this case 'From Above'...a special stand out mention to 'SkullCruzher' this tune just has everything all rolled up into a 5 minute bundle of sheer delight... '
Cruzh should be mighty proud of this release, digging deep into finding their 'Inner Animal' and unleashing 'The Jungle Revolution' to the world, this album certainly ticks all the boxes and more of what is synonymous with the Melodic Rock Scene at present, a satisfying follow up to the two year old 'Tropical Thunder' .. if you are sucker for a melody or two, Harmony Vocals, A Sing-a-long, Loud guitars, Pulsating Rhythms then you can't do wrong by giving 'The Jungle Revolution' a thorough blasting... Just Play it Loud.
M.