Contagious - The Calling


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Z-Records
Catalog Number: ZR199758
Format: CD
Total Time: 48:04:00

I remember getting Contagious' EP titled Red White And Slightly Blue last year and while it didn`t blow me away it certainly had some good moments. Unfortunately I don't have any biography on them but if I remember correctly they're British. Now this six- piece return with their debut full-length album titled The Calling.

Contagious offers straight melodic heavy rock in the vein of Treat, Warrant and Damned Nation. The music is very guitar-driven, with underlying keys and is fronted by a good mid-ranged vocalist which at times reminds me of Jani Lane (Warrant). One beautiful ballad is offered whilst the remaining tracks are catchy rockers. The song material seems a lot stronger than what was offered on the EP. More consistent! Songs like "Hear it Calling," "Time and Again" and "Lady" are prime examples of how this music should be done. Only a couple of songs seem to fall into the mediocre category, the rest hold good solid quality. If I didn"t know any better I would think these guys were Swedish as they definitely have that "scandi" sound. The production is much better than on the EP and is given more depth and punch this time. This is of course a necessity to fully appreciate guitar driven songs like this.

Based on the quality of this CD I can safely recommend this to any fan or AOR and melodic rock. This CD has a lot to offer and I really hope this is a band that will stick around for a while as Contagious is one of the better bands of the genre. A nice surprise!

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Hear It Calling / Time And Again / Lady / Lost And Lonely / Love Can Always / Suzi Ann / Flying High / Outta Time / Fantasy / Dreams

Musicians:
Johnny - bass
Pete - guitar
Norman - drums
Tony - guitar
Glen - vocals

Discography:
Red White and Slightly Blue (ep) (2000)
The Calling (2001)

Genre: Melodic Rock-AOR

Origin UK

Added: December 8th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2414
Language: english

  

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