Saudades de Rock

Saudades de Rock is the fifth album, released after Extreme’s reunion around 2004 as their first new material in thirteen years. True to a title meaning “nostalgic yearnings of rock” in Portuguese, it again centers Nuno Bettencourt’s sharp guitar and Gary Cherone’s expressive vocals, sounding a bluesy, Led Zeppelin-recalling brand of muscular hard rock. Pat Badger returned on bass and new drummer Kevin Figueiredo joined, with the album self-released. Following the lead single “Star,” from the earthy riffs of “Comfortably Dumb” and the drive of “Slide” to the catchy appeal of “King of the Ladies” and beautiful ballads like “Ghost,” “Interface” and “Sunrise,” hard riffs, funk-rooted rhythm and delicate melody each show a different face. The virtuosic playing always ties back to a song’s heat, and the band’s unity is strong whether light or heavy. Having sold over ten million records, the Boston veterans returned in fine form, presenting variety itself as their appeal — a confident comeback that betrays no thirteen-year gap.