One may think that Hydrogyn is a band that relies on the seductive qualities of lead singer and they're right. However, there's more to the band than Julie Westlake. The material on Deadly Passions is better than most and the songs are all well crafted.But there's no denying, the spotlight belongs to Ms. Westlake. She has a voice that can be arresting at time, although I still think there are better songs out there waiting for her to really showcase her abilities. Be that as it may, the new record has 10 songs (11 counting the secret bonus track) of melodic hard rock.
The band serves up a galloping rocker in the first cut "Rejection" which sets the mood for the rest of the affair. "Rejection" has a bit of everything; razor-sharp guitars, a thundering rhythm section, memorable chorus and, of course, Julie's vocals.
"On and On" is the kind of song Hydrogyn does best. It starts off with a dreamy verse before cranking out into a Scorpions-style head-banger. "Candles Light Your Face" is cut from the same cloth, combining both the melodic and crunchy elements effectively.
The closing track "Shadow" is kind of an epic piece that builds throughout and lets Julie sink her teeth into each word. The other tracks all represent themselves well, especially "Over U" which is a stand-out track.
The only downer on the record is the cover of Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know". They cover it nicely, giving it a bit of a harder edge. However, the addition is pointless. It adds nothing to the record and I suspect any of their own songs would have done the job as effectively.
This is a good, although, not great record, and I have a feeling there is better material to come from the band in the future.
