“Colorful White Lies” is a debut full-length album by Electric High, an outstanding Norwegian group based in Bergen. After seventeen excellent singles and three EP releases, these prolific musicians have decided to treat their fans with a comprehensive collection of supercharged tracks. For those who missed our previous writing about these folks, Electric High explores many different but complementary subgenres of rock. Perhaps hard rock comes to mind first, but you’ll notice how some of the finest properties of action rock, garage rock, rock ‘n’ roll, and alternative found their way into this sonic equation. They use all these additional elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to uplift these songs to new heights while remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. Therefore, these experimentations with many different but complementary music genres resulted in an outstanding rock album worth repeating repeatedly.
This majestic album commences with “Sun,” a high-octane composition that channels some of the finest action rock, garage rock, and rock ‘n’ roll vibes. The interplay between guitars acts as a backdrop for all the vocal maneuvers to shine upon. You’ll notice how the guitars clash for dominance throughout the entire track without overwhelming each other while the equally intricate low-end rumble beneath, offers more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth. The drummer emits tremendous dynamics, groove, and power through energetic beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, keeping everything in line while dictating groove and pace. Of course, the exceptional vocal performance serves as a centerpiece, commanding the attention and guiding the listening apparatus through each section while back vocals and singalong elevate everything to an entirely new level. It’s such a marvelous opener that prepares you for such a pleasant sonic journey.
Electric High slows down the pace with “Harder To Justify,” but don’t let that fact fool you. This track carries tremendous heaviness, grittiness, and power, fully packed in colossal, melodic, harmonious riffs. The guitars shine in the limelight throughout the entire track, and they grab you by the collar and refuse to let go long after the song ends. It’s a magnificent stoner-infused hard rock track that will immediately become a staple on your playlist. “Colorful White Lies” is a title track for more than a good reason. It’s a catchy, memorable, engaging number where the vocal arrangements rage supreme, pulling you into the whirlwind of majestic orchestral experimentations. Electric High’s dedication to the craft shines here, as the band thought about all vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuvers. They deliver all those technically demanding, progressive guitar shreds, hooks, leads, and other acrobatics with precision and finesse while the enormously groovy rhythm section binds everything together. It’s a song that vividly showcases their ability as a band.
This ear-appealing sonic voyage continues with “Seven Wonders,” “Wasted,” and “Go Easy On My Heart,” three superb rock tracks that exemplify Electric High’s fresh, unique, innovative, versatile approach to so many rock subgenres. For example, “Seven Wonders” is a fine blend of the nineties and early noughties hard rock music, with jaw-dropping vocal acrobatics and complex guitar works lurking around while “Wasted” brings back classic seventies classic rock and hard rock sound with almost nostalgic, retro ambiance. “Go Easy On My Heart” continuously levitates around by merging only the finest properties of seventies, eighties, and nineties rock hard rock, glam rock, and alternative. These tracks prove that Electric High is not joking with its music at all.
On the other hand, “Cyclone” goes even further in experimentation by pairing some of the finest qualities of Detroit and Seattle garage rock sound. Think of MC5, The Stooges, and Kiss having a party together, and you’ll get an idea of what you might expect from this composition. The guitars reign supreme, with all those heavily distorted, crunchy chord progressions and riffs ringing while the semi-distorted basslines and impressive drumming push the envelope even further. “Royals In Rags” brings back eighties hard rock sound, and it’s one of those tracks with a carefully prepared structure where intricate segments, brilliant ideas, and marvelous orchestrations collide harmoniously. “Crooks” and “Rough Diamond” deliver nearly the same retro hard rock sound, fully supported with clever vocal harmonies, heavy guitar works, and groovy rhythmic patterns. The impressive vocal range seamlessly blends low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, emphasizing everything the remainder of the band tried to achieve with these songs. You’ll notice how the back vocals go octave higher or lower, depending on the situation and mood, and this is just one of those details that makes “Crooks” and “Rough Diamond” such an incredible addition to this comprehensive collection.
“Weeping Gods” tastefully blends southern ambiance with stoner and doom rock. It never ceases to amaze me how these guys always find ways to impress their listeners, and this composition is more than a good example of their experimental nature. You’ll be surprised by the heaviness of all those riffs while the additional slide guitar maneuvers spice things up to the max. The continuous splashes over the cymbals add more rawness, abrasiveness, and grittiness, while those punchy snare hits cut the ambiance in half accurately. “Hear Me Out” and “Siren’s Lullaby” close this epic sonic journey. These two compositions pack some of the finest hard rock, glam rock, and classic rock qualities, once again demonstrating Electric High’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of contemporary rock music. Each instrumentation resonates with incredible precision, providing such an enjoyable listening experience to even the pickiest music enthusiasts.
“Colorful White Lies” is a hard rock masterpiece delivered by Electric High, one of the best modern acts on the European rock scene. Their dedication to the craft, boundless experience, tremendous knowledge, skills, and talent are omnipresent here, as they bring hard rock music on the map with a comprehensive collection of mindblowing rock songs. It’s a pure treat to the ears, so you should immediately place this hard rock gem on your radar. The album is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
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