Rough Grind – Hardened (2022)
Describing their sound as “intense, intriguing and intoxicating dark roast served in your face”, listening to Finnish band Rough Grind is a punch in the face with a tequila chaser. I could compare the quartet to bands like Pantera and Megadeath, but there is a uniqueness in their sound making them stand out among the rest. Founded in 2011, Rough Grind has been sharing its sound with the masses for almost a decade. It was, however, their debut album Pieces of Resistance (released in 2020) that has been the most prominent in the past three years. Featured on numerous radio stations in North America and Europe, Rough Grind is certainly reaching audiences on an international scale. The latest addition to their discography is the album Hardened.
Filled with electrifying guitar riffs, pounding drums, rich vocals and a general feeling of overwhelming awesomeness, Hardened is 25 minutes of heart-pounding rock. When beginning to listen to Hardened, I expected seven tracks of classic rock meets metal music; however, I was pleasantly surprised to see Rough Grind diverge to softer, smoother and more intimate songs. This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the harder melodies; it merely points out the innovativeness and eclecticism of the group.
Opening with the explosive tribute to classic rock, you are immediately knocked off your chair with ‘Dreamchaser’. Powerful and forceful, Rough Grind makes themselves known as a hard-hitting band. The thing is, while the “in your face” harshness of ‘Dreamchaser’ makes you think Rough Grind is a brash, bold metal/rock group, this is an illusion. Movements within ‘Dreamchaser’ indicate an eclectic contemporary edginess as the lads traverse from heavy to smoother, sweeter sounds in the track.
Sliding through the kaleidoscopic soundscape with a honed, evolving sound, Rough Grind include a light-hearted feeling with ‘One By One’, ‘Signs of Life’ and ‘Last Thing You’ll Ever Hear’. One aspect I find particularly exciting is the prominence of a keyboard in ‘Signs of Life’ acting as a breath of air within a rocking album. A mild tinkling in the melody enhances the intimacy of the song and only draws you closer to the group’s colossal sound.
Rounding the album off, we have the almost ballad-type track ‘Last Thing You’ll Ever Hear’. Sami’s vocals have a rich boldness throughout the album, but it is in ‘Last Thing You’ll Ever Hear’ that he executes a tenderness in his own gruff way. Profound and poignant, Rough Grind lets you down with soothing gentleness after ruthless rocking about the soundscape.
Profound and thought-provoking, each of the tracks explores aspects of human fragility and complexity. Rough Grind shares that “…real toughness isn’t all that easy to find – the courage to show a softer side of yourself, the guts to go your own way instead of following others, the willpower to get back up when you’re knocked down. All those things are what the new album Hardened is all about.”
For more from Rough Grind check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
