Review: Nestor – Teenage Rebel
Napalm Records (May 31st 2024)
Reviewer: Jason Hopper
Two and a half years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing Nestor’s debut album ‘Kids in A Ghost Town‘ (review here). It completely blew me away and went on to become my album of the year. At the time I stated that it was, “An album that will be talked about by lovers of this genre for years to come.” To this day, this is my go-to album when I find myself wanting to listen to a band while driving, working, or performing various chores. All this is to say the band’s follow-up would have a lot to live up to.
Two singles have been released so far: ‘Victorious’ and ‘Caroline’. While both songs are catchy and have strong melodies, I am happy to state those are not the best songs. That’s not to say they are not good; it just means this album is chock full of everything one can love about the melodic rock scene. There’s a lot of variety to the album and all the songs are winners.
After a brief intro, the album opens with a double shot of energy that put a big dumb smile on my face. ‘We Come Alive’ has a similar feel to their previous single ‘On the Run’ but with a slightly sped up tempo and subtle changes that make the song stand on its own. That high-octane energy carries over into the title track, with guitarist Jonny Wemmenstedt playing my favorite riff on an album full of great riffs. I hit repeat on this one several times before moving on to the next track.
What followed was a mid-tempo/power ballad with the greatest chorus you will find on the album. ‘Last to Know’ is a powerhouse of a track and made me realize what I love most about this band. Singer Tobias Gustavsson is a unique vocalist in that no one else on the scene sings and emotes the way he does. His timbre hits all the right spots for me.The emotion he pours into the chorus, with his vocals doubled over for a choral effect, activated the endorphins in my brain. It made me close my eyes and let its warmth envelope me. I then put this song on repeat several times. One of the best tracks the band has ever recorded. At this point, I had been listening to the album for about 40 minutes and only gotten through three tracks from the constant repeats.
The next two tracks have already been released as singles, so not much needs to be said about them except a quick note about ‘Caroline’ I absolutely LOVE the refrain at the end of the song, where two lines are repeated by choral vocals. It is impossible to resist the urge to not sing along.
The second of three ballads is next and keen listeners will pick up that ‘The One That Got Away’ has parts that are borrowed from the Chicago classic ‘You’re the Inspiration’. The song has that type of feel and while it’s a strong ballad, that familiarity makes it the weakest of the three ballads.
Up next are a trio of rockers and as stated earlier, there is a variety in their rhythms, which makes each of them stand out from one another. ‘Addicted to Your Love’ takes a mid-tempo, commercial approach and is the type of track that would have easily been released as a single back in the era of the late 80s. ‘21’ is a four on the floor rocker with the album’s fastest tempo and is comparatively the sister track to ‘Firesign’ off their debut. ‘Unchain My Heart’ is another mid-tempo but goes for more of a groove with the bass and keys leading the way. These three play off each other very well in this order.
The final track to close the album is the third ballad ‘Daughter’. Of all the tracks, this is the one that may divide the fans. It’s not a bad song, but it is a personal one. A song that starts with just a piano and vocals, Tobias sings about his daughter leaving his home to venture out on her own for the first time. This may not touch everyone, but as a father to a teenage daughter, I connected with this track instantly. Musically this track is simple and not as strong as most of the other songs, but lyrically this track hit home for me. Tobias’ ability to convey his emotions through his voice is remarkable. He makes you feel what he is feeling.
This album is nearly on par with the debut. A smashing success that shows their debut’s strength was not a one off. This is a band with staying power. A friend of mine reached out after he found out I was reviewing the album and wanted to know what my thoughts were. After one listen, I told him the best compliment I could give is that the album made me feel young, despite the album ending with a ballad about saying goodbye to your grown-up daughter. Sure to make my top albums of the year, I am stoked that the band was able to recapture the magic of their debut and present the world with some of the best melodic rock tracks you are likely to hear this year. Buy this album and support a band that is everything you love about the genre.
Tracklist:
- The Law of Jante (Intro)
- We Come Alive
- Teenage Rebel
- Last to Know
- Victorious
- Caroline
- The One That Got Away
- Addicted to Your Love
- 21
- Unchain My Heart
- Daughter
Line-up:
Tobias Gustavsson – vocals
Jonny Wemmenstedt – guitar
Mattias Carlsson – drums
Marcus Åblad – bass
Martin Frejinger – keyboards
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