Freaks and Clowns - Justice Elite

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The Swedish Metal scene started long ago in the past, but its prominence came only when BATHORY started to ravage lands, and after when Swedish Death Metal founders took the extreme scene by force. Since those days, many different Metal genres bloomed on Swedish soil, and today, it’s easy to find a band in any Rock genre the reader can think of. Therefore, to hear a band as FREAKS AND CLOWS coming from Sweden is not a surprise, and “Justice Elite” really sounds great.

In simple words, their musical work is a fusion between traditional German traditional Heavy Metal with elements from Power Metal and Hard Rock, but bearing a modern and aggressive outfit. It means that it’s melodic, hooking and easy to understand (and like), but their musical aggressiveness is sensible as well.  Fine choruses, solid instrumental parts and vocals with screamed tunes can be heard on their music, and it’s very good, besides it is nothing that wasn’t done before. “Justice Elite” shows a fine work on the sonority. It’s clean and defined, but bearing that rough feeling to make it aggressive and nasty. And by the way, the choice of the instrumental tunes was a wise one, because they are modern, clean, but abrasive.

Massive, heavy, melodic and catchy, “Justice Elite” is that kind of album that will conquer the listeners at the first hearing. And just for begin with this album, the melodic weight of “Justice Elite” (an excellent chorus can be heard), the brutal melodic grasp of “Man With the Power” (these guitars are amazing) and of “Welcome to the Freakshow” (the screamed tunes used by the vocals fit perfectly on these melodic lines), “Guardian Angels” (the mix between Hard Rock melodies and Metal weight can be heard here, and what solid work from bass guitar and drums), the Hard Rock appeal of “One for All - All for One”, the ‘Acceptian’ tempos of “Hell Yeah”, and the 80’s abrasive energy that pulses on “Am I the One or the Victim” are the band’s best moments, but the entire album is amazing.

Listen to “Justice Elite” once, twice or many more times the needed to like it, because if you don’t like it, the problem is on you. Moreover, FREAKS AND CLOWNS needs to keep on (it seems to be a side project due the presence of three members of ASTRAL DOORS’ members make the band seem like a project), because these freaks’ music is excellent!

Songwriting: 10
Musicianship: 9
Memorability: 9
Production: 9