W.E.T. includes Robert Sall of the band Work of Art (The “W”); Erik Martensson of the band Eclipses (The “E”) and Jeff Scott Soto of the band Talisman (The “T”). All three bands are Swedish bands and all on Frontiers so it made it easy to bring these three guys together. They were originally going to be a one-off project, never tour and never do another album. Well, they did a small tour and here we are now reviewing their 2nd album, ‘Rise’. And this time, they are giving more credit to Robben Black and Magnus Henriksson as full time members. Both guys are also from the band Eclipse along with Erik.

The album came out on Frontiers Records since it was all Serafino Perugino’s idea anyway. It was released on February 22, 2013 and was actually produced by Mr. Erik Martennsson himself. Along with the songwriting, guitar playing, bass playing, keyboards, he was rather busy on this album. But Erik wasn’t alone on the songwriting as Robert Sal was heavily involved as well as Jeff Scott Soto and Magnus Henriksson. Come to think of it, everyone who did songwriting on the debut, pretty much contributed here as well. The sound on this album didn’t change, it is pure 80’s melodic rock or AOR if you want. Think Journey, Bon Jovi and the like and you pretty much have an idea of what this album will sound like.

The album opens with “Walk Away”, a lusciously sounding lick and then some heavy drums goes right in to a groove that brings it all together. Soto’s vocals are so smooth and slick you are transported to another era. With a hook that has you singing along as you ride down the rode with this beautiful melodic rock extravaganza.

Then we get the delicious “Learn to Live Again” which is a duet between Erik and Jeff and it is nothing short of delightful. You get more of the same hummable, singable magic as they figure, if it ain’t broke, why fix it. Jeff, again, sounds fantastic with his almost falsetto singing at times, and with this wicked riffs and a killer solo backing him up, it is more greatness.

“Rise Up” does just that is it is a little heavier, soaring guitars and a little more edge showing they can rock out with the best of them, but not before it starts off a little slower and maybe even a slight Kiss 80’s vibe to it. Which means, it is a little cheesy, so grab a bottle of wine and enjoy!!

Then we get the first power ballad and let me tell you it is stellar. “Love Heals” is a little darker in its mood, yet it shines as bright as any ballad back in the day. Jeff is in his wheelhouse as I always say with this type of song. They are made perfectly for his voice. Journey would be proud to have a song like this it is that good.

“What You Want” brings back the rock with a great Danger Danger sounding riff to open the song. I almost expected Ted Poley to sing, but thankfully it is still Jeff with his powerful, yet slick vocals. The song is a little basic, but it is still catchy and you can’t help but singalong with that hooky chorus.

Next up is “The Moment” and it is a high energy rocker that speeds through at a rather quick pace, that is almost exhausting. At the same time, the song is more of the same, yet not as special as the earlier tracks. You get the great guitar solo, colorful keyboards and Jeff’s great vocals, but nothing new and exciting with this one.

“Bad Boy” is so 80’s cliched with that contagiously infectious chorus and I love every second of it. Jeff gets a little more aggressive, there is an all-in “ooh-oohs” from everyone and the whole thing is just so much fun, a total rocking blast. Tell me that chorus isn’t the worst thing ever and yet still perfection…man this is a killer track as the sound takes me back to high school.

The drums come slamming home and the song gets heavy. “On the Run” might be the most metal song on the album and I couldn’t be happier as this album needed something with a little bite. But don’t think it won’t have the hooks and that catchy chorus because it is still all there. Jeff still nails every note with those vocals that wash through you and feels so refreshing.

“Broken Wings” sounds a little Celtic with that opening guitar and keyboards, really cool. Another song that really soars when it hits the chorus as these guys know how to make a song catchy and memorable. Jeff’s vocals during the verses are a little deeper and slower and then they climb to new heights on the chorus. Not the best song on the album overall, but a cool sound to it for sure.

Next up is a more modern sounding song with “Shot”. A more dramatic, darker song and a serious tone to it which gives it a little edge. It builds and builds and then the chorus delivers the payoff of a “shot, shot, shot through the heart”. A simple track, but still packs a lot of punch.

The second and final ballad is “Still Believe in Us” and this one is drenched with a piano and softer side of Soto on the vocals. But the chorus still explodes as the rest of the band joins in and then back to the sensual side of Soto. Overall, it is a solid ballad, but doesn’t rise to the heights of “Love Heals”.

The final track is “Still Unbroken” with its wicked sounding riffs and heartbeat pounding drums. This rocker comes screaming out of the gates and packs quite a punch and then the chorus delivers the final knockout blow. With one of the better solos on the album and Soto’s continual perfection on vocals the album goes out with the same bang that the album opened. It leaves you wanting more and that is what a good closing song should do.

Track Listing:

1. Walk Away – Keeper
2. Learn to Live Again – Keeper
3. Rise Up – Keeper
4. Love Heals – Keeper
5. What You Want – Keeper (1/2 Point)
6. The Moment – Delete
7. Bad Boy – Keeper
8. On the Run – Keeper
9. Broken Wings – Keeper (1/2 Point)
10. Shot – Keeper
11. Still Believe – Keeper (1/2 Point)
12. Still Unbroken – Keeper

The Track Score is 9.5 out of 12 Tracks or 79%.  The guitars rip, the keyboards shimmer, the drums slay, the bass grooves and the vocals soar in another Melodic Rock Masterpiece.  I think it is slightly less than the debut in overall perfection, but it still rises above most releases at this time.  The debut had more punch, they took more chances, where this one played it a little more safe.  Yet, it still delivers a solid album and any 80’s Rock, AOR, Melodic Rock will just eat it up. I know I have…but I’m far from full so get me more W.E.T. albums to devour.  My Overall Score is a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.

If I kept with the schedule, W.E.T.’s ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014) would be up next, but I found something I didn’t know existed and it is a bootleg of demos from Jeff’s early career…we are going to review it next instead.

UP NEXT: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – ‘LA ROCKS DEMO / VINNIE VINCENT DEMO 1988 (2008)

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
30. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
31. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
32. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
33. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
34. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
35. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
36. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
37. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
39. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
40. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
41. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
45. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
46. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
47. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
49. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
50. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
51. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
53. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
54. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
57. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
58. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
59. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
62. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
63. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
65. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
66. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
67. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
68. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
69. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
70. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
71. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
73. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
74. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
75. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
76. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
77. Talisman – “Never Say Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
78. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
81. Ellefson/Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underground’ (2022)
82. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition