Album Review: Laurenne/Louhimo - The Reckoning

In recent years, I'm not sure any vocalist has caught my attention as being the next 'wow' voice the way Noora Louhimo has. Between her work with Battle Beast and all the guest appearances she has done, she has made a name for herself as one of the best voices out there on the scene. If you recall, I was incredibly impressed by her prowess on her first solo album earlier this year. For this album, we get an album tailored for what I want to hear; Noora paired up with Smackbound singer Netta Laurenne, who also impressed me with her voice, singing some heavy and melodic songs. Sounds perfect, right?

You wouldn't if you heard the first single, "Bitch Fire", which is just awful. It isn't melodic at all, and both women shriek as much as sing. It takes away the entire reason I want to listen to them sing; them singing! As a first impression, it drove down whatever expectations I had for this album. If it was going to be an accurate representation, we were going to have some trouble.

Thankfully, that song stands as an unfortunate one-off that annoys me, but can easily be skipped past. The remainder of the album puts Netta and Noora in melodic heavy metal where they should be able to shine. There is another slight problem we have to mention; the production of the album is a bit muffled, and despite all their power, the vocals can be a bit buried in the mix. Sure, it's a metal album and that means loud guitars, but the voices are the driving force of this album, so anything that distracts from them is a mistake. Netta, in particular, is hard to find in these mixes.

The title track showcases everything that's good about this project. It's got heaviness, a stomping attitude, and a chorus that has hints of 80s pop and melodic rock to serve as a huge hook for Noora's huge voice. It's that kind of catchy hard rock that gets your head bobbing, that you sing along with, but you won't ever mistake it for being pop music. It's perfect.

"Tongue Of Dirt" is as heavy as the album gets, with a chugging riff that borrows some of the tone and rhythm from bands like Soilwork, only to explode into a dramatic chorus that again elevates the song to a new level. Give great singers solid melodies, and they turn the songs into something special. These ladies have that power, and they showcase it often throughout the album. Speaking of special, the chorus on "Striking Like A Thunder", where the blend of their voices is easiest to hear, is pure magic. I said the same thing about last year's Allen/Olzon album when they blended their voices, and it's true here too. There is something about the way certain voices come together that no one singer could ever top on their own.

The ballad "Hurricane Love" is a beautiful vehicle for these ladies, while "To The Wall" and "Viper's Kiss" have big metallic hooks that are fist-raising. The longer the album plays, the more it has to offer. Repeated listens have the same trend, with these songs becoming even more engaging as you get to know them. "The Reckoning" is very close to being a shoo-in for my top ten list at the end of the year. Even with that one song I will pretend doesn't exist, a slightly cleaner mix would open the sound up even more, and it would make this one of my favorite heavy albums of the year. It's still a great showcase that delivers more than enough to be satisfying, but damn, if only that one flaw wasn't there.