Hardcore Superstar
No Regrets

September 2003
Released: Sept, Music For Nations
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

This is the long awaited third album from this Gothenburg based band from Sweden. Their debut “BAD SNEAKERS AND A PINA COLADA” came '00 and the follow up “THANK YOU (FOR LETTING US BE OURSELVES) in '01. After that the band went out on tour for a really long time and after that they took a well needed break. Now it’s time to follow up their previous album with this very well produced album. On this album Hardcore Superstar sounds just like they should. They are back to their sound on the debut, they play sleazy/glam hard rock’n’roll that sounds like Hanoi Rocks, Guns’n’roses.



This third album is produced by Roberto Laghi together with the band and they’ve done a really good job with the production. Roberto has managed to get out the dirty/hard/glam/sleazy sound that Hardcore is known for. What studio they’ve used is unknown though. All of the guys have written all the music and lyrics and they have created 13 brilliant tracks for this album.



The first single they’ve released was “HONEY TONGUE” about a month before the cd release and the single became a minor hit here in Sweden. With the single release they did a promo tour with record signings in different record stores across Sweden. Now that the album is out they are touring Sweden this year and next year they are heading out in Europe, Japan and probably the rest of the world.



“WALL OF COMPLAINT” Jocke is high up in the mix along with Silver Silvers impressing guitar play. This song has a very sing a long friendly chorus. “NO REGRETS”,” IT’S SO TRUE” and “STILL I’M GLAD” these songs could have fitted in on any Hanoi Rocks album. “BREAKOUT”, ”THE LAST GREAT DAY” these songs is a bit faster and these are heavy rock’n’roll tracks. “SOUL OF SWEETNESS” starts with an intro by just Silver Silver high up in the mix with a lot of guitar before the rest of the bands join in, also a glam/sleaze track. “HONEY TONGUE” and “BRING ME BACK” has a drum intro and then its Jocke high up in the sound picture. These are other songs with sing a long friendly chorus. “PATHETIC WAY OF LIFE” and “I CAN’T CHANGE” this is glam/sleaze rock’n’roll updated for the 21st century. “WHY CAN’T YOU LOVE ME LIKE BEFORE” a heavy up-tempo ballad in the verses and in the chorus the speed rises. “YOU KNOW WHERE WE ALL BELONG” has a very ballad like start with only guitar/song before the rest of the bands join in ad the tempo rises.



On this album Hardcore Superstar have headed back to the dirty/sleazy/ unpolished sound they had on the debut. Now they’re doing what they do best – glam/sleaze/garage rock’n’roll made in their own way. They have also developed music/lyric wise and there’s nothing bad to say about this album at all. I don’t have any favourite song, everyone is equal. If you are a fan of bands like Hanoi Rocks, Poison, Guns’n’Roses etc you should check this out. If Hardcore Superstar is coming to your town I strongly recommend you to check this Swedish band out.