Leverage – DeterminUs

Label: Frontiers Records Release: 26.04.2019

Leverage are back. 10 years after their last record “Circus Colossus”, the Finns release “DeterminUs”. But there have been many changes in the band. Pekka Heino who was found at the microphone during the first three releases, is not part of the band anymore and also Guitarist Torsti Spoof is no longer in the Line-up. Their part take on guitarist Mikko Salovaara (Kiuas, Raskasta Joulua) and Kimmo Blom (Raskasta Joulua), a well known project singer from Helsinki area and former The Voice of Finland participant.

After 10 years silence and with a new singer, I wonder if it would be better to start over with a new name. Sure there was a lot of effort put in the band to get it known back in 2009, but somehow I really doubt that fans from back then will recognize Leverage at all. The music is more aggressive, the vocals of Kimmo Blom in a way very diverse but also a bit willful and I honestly have to admit that I was a Fan on Pekka Heino’s voice and it is very hard for me to imagine the old songs with Kimmo’s voice.

With a new name it might have been easier in the end. Sometimes a new start is better than take over a name that people have heard last time 10 years ago. But still “DeterminUs” is a strong record. 11 powerful songs await you, with a singer that shows a little bit more of this ability. You get awesome melodies, no that easy going lyrics to sing a long, but therefore the more excellent Guitar soli. The songs are sometimes strongly reminding of Dio. I hope that the old band name was not a bad decision. But after 10 years the new Line-up delivers a great new record that deserves a chance also from people who didn’t like Leverage before, because it has nothing to do with the old Leverage style anymore.