Extreme – "Six"
[Important: Write gorilla joke here before hitting 'Publish']
Admittedly, I had no idea that Extreme, as is the case, had gotten reunited and started releasing albums again. It's like, you just don't think about Extreme a whole lot, y'know?
Anyway, not unlike with Winger, Extreme's colleagues in the relatively small world of semi-progressive hard rock, who also just released an LP named after its chronological discographic order, "Six" is one of those albums that defies one's non-existing expectations and grows with every listen.
I was unimpressed in the beginning, though. Because when it comes to Extreme, my references are limited to the band's first three albums, back when they had that cheeky attitude and those funky, playful elements that their technical prowess allows for. Here, however, songs like "Banshee" and opener "Rise" are centered around dry, simple, chugging guitar figures and straightforward mid-tempo.
But it opens up. Aforementioned opener reveals a bombastic half-time stadium chorus with strangely infectious background vocals guaranteed to stick after two listens, tops. And, as has already been discussed, axe maestro Nuno Bettencourt excels with a solo of Malmsteen-esque quality. Seriously, guys, that section where he fucking shreds natural harmonics... I mean, we got John Petrucci crying in the corner here. Mark my words: Bettencourt is de facto Van Halen league.
Don't expect vintage Extreme here. Because this is an example of evolution – and successful evolution at that.
Anyway, its successor, "#Rebel", is a hard, bluesy legato shuffle reminiscent of my own native Volbeat back when they were still exciting and original. And "The Mask" also shuffles vivaciously across the grand plains of hard, classic rock'n'roll, fueled by a red-hot vocal performance from Gary Cherone at his best, hitting the perfect synergy between simple, hard, and hella catchy – like most of the hard-rocking tunes on this album.
We gotta mention the acoustic ones as well, though. See, when one's biggest hit is called "More Than Words", one might have a natural inclination towards trying to emulate that success by upping one's output of ballads. However, unlike with the latest and lamest attempt from Ugly Kid Joe, the acoustic songs here actually work for the most part. "Other Side of the Rainbow", for example, features a yummy harmonization and some equally yummy Lydian extensions in the C-part. And "Small Town Beautiful", extra cheese and syrup and other high-cholesterol toppings, works because Extreme are simply masters at balancing that fine line between hit and shit.
"Six" is one of those albums that defies one's non-existing expectations and grows with every listen.
They do cross that line, though, in the album's only downright stinker; "Beautiful Girls" featuring a lame drum box sounding like something from a toy store, puerile lyrics about picking up chicks at the beach, and that hackneyed 4-chord progression from half of the world's big hits, but used with less imagination than Red Hot Chili Peppers ever managed. Impressive!
However, its predecessor, "X Out", is probably the most serious thing I can recall ever hearing outta Extreme, blending the somber elements from Riverside with the lofty, extraverted elements from Dream Theater. And the album's hardest tune, "Save Me", has some distinct Alice in Chains vibes going on, not the least in and by those vocal harmonies – another thing that this band does so well.
Don't expect vintage Extreme here. Because this is an example of evolution – and successful evolution at that. Which, by the way, reminds me that I still have a gorilla joke to write.
Rating: 4.5 out of 6
Genre: Hard rock
Release date: 9/6/2023
Label: earMUSIC
Producer: Nuno Bettencourt