CREYE have a problem. 4 albums, 4 singers, and this album also features a completely different line-up, with only guitarist Andreas Gullstrand left to represent the original band. Described as the man behind the band’s vision and its driving force, he’s the one testing fans patience with these changes.
Creye III ‘Weightless’ was a glorious slice of Scandi-melodic rock which I claimed had found the band reaching ‘full blown musical maturity.’ This album, the aptly titled ‘Creye IV – The Aftermath’ is unfortunately a big step backwards.
It still has moments of the Scandi-brilliance the first 3 records delivered, but at the heart of the problem here for me – I just don’t like the new singer.
The material in large part tries to replicate the band’s sound, but it lacks the spark the Creye name has come to represent and the vocals are a big part of that problem. New singer Simon Böös sounds like he could be singing out of his comfort zone. It just sounds forced, especially on the higher notes. It's not easy to listen to. There are also a few different styles at play within this album, as if the band is trying to find themselves again (no surprise with an all-new line-up). Shame, as they nailed it last time around.
Still plenty of keyboard and guitar driven AOR in the truest sense of the term, but the highlights are a few songs here and there rather than a slather of gloriousness that the band and their last album in particular have previously delivered.
