The Cotton Soeterboek Band - Twisted (CD)

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I have to admit that the album's cover made me think that this release reached METAL TEMPLE by mistake. I mean there is nothing evil, black or rotted on the artwork; just two guitars standing in a green field. So, with many doubts going round my mind I placed the CD on my player and took the biography sheet on my hands.
While the old school Hard Rocker Set Me Free started waking memories of mine I learned that this band features the singer Robert Soeterboek who was with Arjen Lucassen and his (at least) impressive STAR ONE tour. Robert was approached by the guitarist Alan Cotton (MAESTRO ALEX GREGORY) who had plans to form a brand new band. The initial doubts born by the non-Metal artwork went away with the second track Pretty Maureen; Hard Rock groovy rhythms and hearty guitar solos wraped around Robert's 'old school' vocals are the main elements for this one. Nothing fancy or over produced; just straightforward Hard Rock with the beautiful Southern Rock finishing touches. The homonymous song looks towards the WHITESNAKE territory with the Coverdale vocals, DEEP PURPLE-ish keyboards and of course 'dirty' guitar bluesy licks. The album is built upon the 70s atmosphere when music was born through deep emotions standing away from the music trends and money making philosophies. The US Rock backbone reveals itself in the LYNYRD SKYNYRD clean guitar based song Leave Me Blue and in the groovy Gold And Gray where the Southern whiskey breeze dominates. Still Of The Night has a genuinely addictive chorus followed by the beautiful piano solo and topped by the harsh deep vocals making the choice of the best track of the album a perfunctory procedure.
The bottom line is that Twisted was a pleasant surprise for my ears that had the chance to listen to something different 'belonging' to an almost forgotten decade. The band will get you back to the basics with full of Hard Rock guitar tunes, foot taping melodies and of course heartbreaking lyrics. If any of the above vintage feelings are lost in your memories or even new to you then this album will guide through the whole process, so invest with your eyes closed.