Rise Up

Rise Up, released in February 2013, is the second album, on which W.E.T. drew contemporary melodic hard rock through powerful vocals, thick choruses and tightened guitar riffs. Where the debut had been assembled from material each man brought in, this one was written as a single band. The songs came together between December 2011 and February 2012 and were cut from March to May; three more were added in September and recorded in October. The songs carry big hooks while the rhythm and guitars keep enough weight never to lean on sweetness alone. The advance track “Learn to Live Again” holds the first duet between Erik Mårtensson and Jeff Scott Soto. From the opening “Walk Away” into the title track, and on to “Broken Wings” and “Still Unbroken,” the contrast between bracing rockers and deeply dug ballads enriches the record. Mårtensson called it heavier and darker than the debut; Soto said the first album was a set of good songs while this one had a band personality. A live album from the Stockholm show celebrating its release followed in 2014. Strongly recommended to anyone after big vocal melody.