Gotus is a new hard rock group founded by known guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex-Gotthard, ex-Krokus, ex-Unisonic, etc.) and drummer Pat Aeby (ex-Krokus). Later, they were joined by Tony Castell (ex-Krokus) on bass and Alain Guy (ex-Quartz) on keyboards. The first vocalist, Dino Jelusick (Whom Gods Destroy), was recruited for some live shows. Finally, the line-up was complete with the addition of the famous vocalist Ronnie Romero (Lords of Black, ex-Rainbow, The Ferrymen).
Musically, Gotus pays tribute to the hard rock music of the 80s, 90s, and early 00s, with a lot of influences from Gotthard in particular and a few from Krokus. The production is crisp, dynamic, and crystal clear. All performances are stunning, and Ronnie especially sings his heart out on this release. At times, it reminded me of the good old days of Gotthard with the late Steve Lee behind the mic. I guess that’s why there’s a cover of “Reason to Live” from the “Homerun” album. There’s also a cover of Katmandü’s song “When the Rain Comes”, which Mandy used to play.
Out of the nine original songs, the (power) ballads “Love Will Find Its Way”, “Children of the Night”, and “Without Your Love” (with the AOR vibe) really steal the show. Moreover, the rockers “Beware of the Fire”, “Weekend Warriors”, “Take Me to the Mountain”, “Undercover”, and “The Dawn of Tomorrow” are sure to delight not only Gotthard fans but all hard rock rockers out there. Largely, the majority of the songs have memorable melodies and great hooks.
“Gotus” is a well-crafted and pleasant hard rock album that delivers what it promises. It’s quite refreshing, but it also has a nostalgic feel. In a few words, it’s an album that makes you wanna rock out and have a good time. Let’s hope that Gotus will stick around and keep on rockin’, cuz hard rock music really needs bands like them more than ever…
