Harsh – Feels

Harsh
Feels
Label: Fireflash Records / Edel
Out: 3^rd July 2026
Playing time: 48:40

HARSH are the new rising stars of the Hard Rock scene.

Well, the promoters are rarely at a loss for grand words. The Paris-based band was formed in 2018. Their debut album, ‘Out Of Control’, was released four years later and was clearly a resounding success. They also have more than 300 live performances under their belt, including gigs with The New Roses, Anvil and Chris Holmes (ex-Wasp). Another four years have passed and the follow-up, ‘Feels’, is now complete.

‘Break Your Way’ kicks off with clean guitars, before the drums kick in. Following this brief introduction, a lively Hard Rock track unfolds. ‘All I Ever Wanted’ is the next catchy, riff-driven Rock song, featuring a powerful guitar solo. ‘Fuel To The Fire’ is a harder and faster track, yet still melodic. The band is driven by drummer Léo Löwenthal. This doesn’t faze singer Albert Arnold, however. His vocals are consistently clear and powerful, with occasional high-pitched Rock screams. This is followed by “Offer You A Rome”, a magnificent stadium anthem featuring “ohohoh” chants. From the beginning, heavy guitar riffs and drums dominate the rhythmic ‘Don’t Mess With Me’. Plucked acoustic guitars feature at the start of the ballad ‘Forever Yesterday’. These continue to be heard later on and are supported by electrically amplified guitars. A lovely breather for musicians and listeners alike. Then, on ‘Back To Life’, the guitars sound slightly frantic in places. But the beautiful melodies come through in the chorus. The Michael Sembello cover “Maniac” is transformed by Harsh into a hard-rocking track. The original was part of the soundtrack for “Flashdance” and, as such, a pure Pop song. The reinterpretation scores points above all with its hard guitar playing, particularly during the outstanding solo. This demonstrates once again how a revised arrangement can enhance a song. ‘Losing My Mind’ picks up the energy. This track really gets the party started. Anyone who, upon hearing the title ‘Dancing Dancing’, thinks we’re heading back into Flashdance territory is in for a pleasant surprise. This is melodic Hard Rock at its finest, featuring plenty of guitar riffs and a sophisticated guitar solo. ‘Never Gonna See Me Fall’ is the album’s second ballad. Acoustic guitars and polyphonic singing create a goose-bump-inducing atmosphere. At times, heavier riffs push their way to the fore, followed by a guitar solo. The closing track, ‘When We’re Together’, provides a anthemic finale.

I have to admit, the press release wasn’t exaggerating. Even though eight years have passed since the band first formed. But new bands have a really difficult time making it big these days. That makes the French band’s resilience all the more impressive. Will Harsh manage this time to bring their fresh and varied Hard Rock to a bigger audience of Rock fans? I hope so.

Harsh – Don’t Mess With Me (Visualizer): https://youtu.be/xAxH1LQceIA?si=mvLcO_UDXvjVWLsi

Lineup:

Albert Arnold – Vocals, Guitar
Séverin Piozzoli – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Julien Martin – Bass, Backing Vocals
Léo Löwenthal – Drums, Backing Vocals

Track list:

• Break Your Way
• All I Ever Wanted
• Fuel to The Fire
• Offer You A Rome
• Don’t Mess With Me
• Forever Yesterday
• Back To Life
• Maniac
• Losing My Mind
• Dancing Dancing
• Never Gonna See Me Fall
• When We’re Together