Winger
IV

January 2007
Released: 2006, Shrapnel Records
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Celtic Bob

Finally Winger has released a new album. It’s been too many years since PULL and fans have been itching for a new release ever since. While the band had the worst reputation in the music industry their music proved that hidden beneath the image there was a massive amount of talent. Reb’s guitar playing, Rod’s drumming and just the musical knowledge if Kip himself this band should have been the biggest band of the time but instead they got shafted and became forced to pack it in.



This is the band’s fourth studio release and is thus titled. The album can best be described as a modern rock classic. It is sure to become a fan favorite much like it’s predecessor. It is equally as strong if not stronger. Kip, Reb and Rod have mastered their craft even more if that was possible. The guitar riffs and technical drum fills are superb and mind numbing in places. They add a certain heaviness to the entire disc and then Kip’s vocal’s add that commercial aspect which give it that classic Winger signature sound. Songs like “Disappear” and “Right Up Ahead” feature some of Reb’s heavy and intense guitar work while the more melodic songs like “On A Day Like Today” is basically a modern version of the power ballad. The track “Generica” is a bit of a mixed bag. It is extremely catchy and memorable but it is somewhat simplistic and repetitive. It is one of the better songs on the cd but there is a certain aspect to it that some fans and listeners may not take too well to.



An overall amazing disc from Winger. A solid and worthy follow-up to the highly praised PULL. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait this long for V.

Winger
IV

January 2007
Released: 2006, Frontiers Records/Zink Music
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Kip Winger has reunited his old band Winger. The last thing we heard from Winger was their last album PULL from 1993 and the compilation album released in 2001. All of the original members are back; the only new member is Cenk Eroglu on guitar and keys.



Kip Winger and Reb Beach started writing material to IV at the beginning of this year. What the band delivers on IV is still melodic hard rock, but with a bit of a darker musical direction than on previous ones. The songs are still catchy, but a bit sadder and darker which is not surprising since the lyrics are about war and what happens during one.



If you appreciated PULL I think you’re going to like IV as well. Kip Winger’s voice sounds as good as before and the musicians have become more self-confident and stronger on their instruments. The musician that is the brightest star is undoubtedly Reb Beach on guitar. All of the 11 songs on the album are amazingly strong; Winger and Beach have done a great job with the material.



In conclusion, IV is an excellent comeback album that puts Winger where they belong: at the top of the melodic hard rock genre. It’s fun to hear that Winger has stuck to their musical convictions, but adapted it to fit into the 21st century style. And for once, the label has spent some money and time on the cover artwork, because it surely reflects the essence of the album.



It’s hard to pick any favorite tracks amongst these golden picks, but I’ll choose “Right up Ahead”, “Four Leaf Clover”, “MI6”, “Your Great Escape”, and “Short Flight to Mexico”.



http://www.zinkmusic.com