Joseph Tholl |It Might Be Art |High Roller Records

"It Might Be Art" marks the second solo venture for the Swedish musician, following up on his 2019 debut "Devil's Drum". This sophomore output was shaped inside Humbucker Studio, a recording space co-owned alongside Robert Pehrsson. On this specific collection of music, Joseph Tholl handles the vocal duties, guitars, a major portion of the bass lines, as well as the piano and synthesizer arrangements. The drumming is divided between Robert Eriksson from The Hellacopters and Jakob Ljungberg from Second Sun. The record features additional guest contributions from Johannes Andersson, Tobias Lindkvist, Pia Stjärnvind, Adam Zaars, and Robert Pehrsson.

This material shifts away from pure heavy metal, steering into a melodic rock direction that incorporates diverse soundscapes. The songs reveal a varied spectrum where brighter, poppy hooks run alongside highly somber textures in tracks like "I'm In A Darkness" and "The Burial". The sonic blueprint draws from classic post-punk, gothic rock, and alternative rock acts, channeling inspirations reminiscent of Sisters Of Mercy, The Cure, New Model Army, and Midnight Oil, blending those elements with grunge, classic AOR, and Swedish pop-rock.

For metalheads who tracked this musician's history in high-speed metal or dark gothic metal, this solo output is a stylistic departure. The album drops the metallic aggression entirely to explore a rock and roll path. The melodies are crafted with skill, shifting effortlessly from upbeat anthems to shadowy, atmospheric rock. The contribution of different drummers and the choice of guests inject distinct flavors into the arrangements, helping the music establish its own identity. The songwriting is honest, shifting from hook-heavy rock to moody, darker segments without losing the listener's interest. It is a melodic rock album instead of a traditional metal assault, but the rock and roll spirit remains intact.

| 7.5