MELDRUM – Loaded Mental Cannon

Michelle Meldrum, also known as Mrs. John Norum, is back. Phantom Blue never made it huge, though quality always was presented, but the whole scene with goat-bearded, roadie-looking, depressive shitheads and the record industry killed that band in the early nineties, as well as many other good bands. Oh well, I read a discussion on Perpetual Motion not long ago, weather girls can shred or not. The conclusion, as far as a discussion draws a conclusion, was most likely negative. Michelle proves the nonbelievers wrong. She delivers stunning guitar work the whole disk through, though she’s not overdoing her work. Unlike many shredheads, the songs presented are not only an excuse to show off playing. The band Meldrum presents groovy (opener “The Story Of Junk”) rockers but at the same time melodic pearls (like the impressive “Feeding The Hope” and “Brake”), all with a little but not too much modern approach. Moa Holmsten has a voice that is pretty close to Lita Ford’s, but she has a lot more diversity and aspects to it, as well as more… (No, I am not going to make this a statement about hooters, like this other review I saw on the web recently). Let me just say that I believe Moa has potential as a front man, or make that front woman… This band is Swedish by the way, as Michelle has relocated to Stockholm with her Swedish husband (who holds a Norwegian passport actually). Confused? Then get a copy of “Loaded Mental Cannon”, the debut from the best all girl rock band (almost…) out there today. Can someone out there tell the Wacken promoters about Meldrum please???