Album Review: Jerrico - Beautiful In Danger

Always held in high regard for their heavy, melodic sound it's understandable that some may see Jerrico's latest offering as a departure from their roots, but despite the leaning towards more straight-up hard rock, their unique essence remains.

Their signature sound has always been complex with many layers and none of that power has been lost on the Melbourne band's new album, Beautiful In Danger, produced by Forrester Savell.

Opening track, Monsters, is everything that Jerrico represents, big, brash and heavy with that mellow edge that makes them stand out from the crowd, drawing on their electronic and Middle Eastern influences. It is contrasted with the next two songs, Your Favourite Song and Cigarettes and Conversations. Both have a mainstream rock feel but Cigarettes and Conversations is more successful with its edgy hook. Other standout tracks include Dance Like No One's Watching, with its anthemic feel, the acoustic Moonlight Headlights and the slow progressive build of Circles And Squares.

Jerrico also appeared to have tried to write an album with a message, as demonstrated by the political track, The Executioner, and the thought-provoking lyrics on The Art Of Illusion, “first you were my enemy, now you are my lover, let's go take some hostages”.

Beautiful In Danger may have been intended as an exodus away from prog rock for Jerrico to search for a more mainstream audience, but it doesn't really matter either way. They may snatch themselves some new fans through a few really solid rock tracks but there are still plenty of dimensions in there to maintain that distinctive, full and complex Jerrico sound.