Bodyguerra - 2023 - Invictus

(49:30; Fastball Music)

Track list:
1. Blood and Stones 5:47
2. Troublemaker 4:24
3. Twilight 4:22
4. She Bob 4:38
5. Confident Woman 4:39
6. Devil's Eye 4:24
7. I Stop Listening to You 4:26
8. Time Goes By 5:12
9. Too Late 5:03
10. C'mon, Tell Me 4:19
11. My Mother Told Me 2:25

Line-up:
Robert Brenner - bass
Ela Sturm - vocals
Guido Stoecker - guitars, vocals
Jason-Steve Mageney - drums


German band Bodyguerra has been a feature of their local music scene for the better part of 15 years at this point, with their career as a recording unit dating back to 2013. This fall the band is out with their third studio album, "Invictus", which was released on German label Fastball Music.

If I have to place Bodyguerra inside of a specific style and orientation, then I'd go for traditional heavy metal. This is a band that at least on this album create and recreate music of the kind that the metal bands explored back in the early 1980's, albeit with a few updates in the mix and production department and a few more contemporary twists here and there to boot. But classic era heavy metal is the main dish served here.

The band does a good job in alternating between the guitars, the bass and the drums being the main component that drives the song onward and forward, and while the songs generally stay in the low paced to midpaced variety they have also done an excellent job in creating an ebb and flow type of experience for the album experience, with slower and more open songs alternating fine with songs that have more of an uptempo and energetic stature and composure.

Guitar man Stöcker has done a fine job in creating some sweet and compelling riff patterns throughout, and deliver some fine and engaging solo runs to boot. Driving basslines and busy and compelling drum patterns alternate fine with the guitar presence, and Stöcker knows when to let the guitar take a bit more of a back seat position to allow the rhythm section to shine bright too. And vocalist Sturm is a presence throughout, with powerful melodic control used to good effect while power and grit are applied when needed. The level of vocal control is exemplified at the very end of the album with the possibly folk music inspired a cappella 'My Mother Told Me'.

While traditional heavy metal is the bread and butter of this production, Bodyguerra does the same as many of the metal bands did back in the early 80's, and that is to add a bit of hard rock to the proceedings in general, and in this case with an affection for the more distinct blues-flavored variety of the style brought into play. A slight expansion of this inclusion is the more dampened and straight up blues rock that is the end result when the band cover Cyndi Lauper's old song 'She Bop', named as 'She Bob' on this album.

"Invictus" comes across as a solid and well made excursion into the traditional heavy metal landscapes, explored and served with a little bit of a hard rock side dish. If early 80's heavy metal with a bit of a hard rock flavoring is the kind of music that gets you going, this album should be a fine and solid addition to your music collection.

Olav M. Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
https://www.bodyguerra.com/
https://www.fastball-music.de/