Album Review | Bonafide – Are You Listening

Bonafide
Are You Listening?
Label: Black Lodge Records
Out: October 27^th, 2023
Playing time: 37:31

Bonafide were founded in 2006 in Malmö (southern Sweden) by guitarist and singer Pontus Snibb. One year later, the self-titled debut album was released. They played several Swedish clubs and festivals. They supported bands like Deep Purple, Europe or Status Quo. Further albums were released at regular intervals. Until 2017, when the last studio album for the time being, “Flames”, hit the record shops. Two years later, a live album followed. Otherwise, it was quiet. With “Are You Listening?” there is now a new sign of life from the Swedes.

The title track “Are You Listening” is right at the beginning of the album. But without the question mark. The song starts with chorus vocals. But soon the guitars fry. Singer Pontus Snibb sings with a slightly scratchy voice. The chorus vocals haunt us throughout the song. The crowning glory is a great guitar solo. A nice rocking introduction. Even if with a little more than four minutes playing time it ends far too quickly. And the following songs also shine with short playing times. The Swedes always get to the point very quickly. Like in the three-and-a-half-minute “Hero To Zero”, whose opening riff reminds a little of The Who. But otherwise, they are far away from the British in terms of sound. Again and again, you can hear the vocals. An exception is “Salvation”, with five and a half minutes by far the longest track. And here you hear the finest Blues Rock.  This is followed by “Whos The Boss”, the shortest song. And this is where things really get going, Rock’n’Roll in the style of the seventies. On “Snacket” Nisse Hellberg can be heard as a guest singer and Pelle Jernryd plucks the steel guitar (or also called lap steel). And the ever “popular” choruses in “Hu Hu” style.  “Dealt A Bad Hand” is then another high-speed neck breaker. “Rumble” stomps along majestically, riff driven. With “Huhuhu” chorus. Otherwise, it sounds a bit like Krokus. Also vocally, one is reminded of Chris von Rohr. “Tonight I’m Wild” is similar to the previous song. The tempo picks up again with the rocker “Tommie Nine Fingers”. With the last song, “Little Miss Understood”, you can clearly hear another reference band, AC/DC. In my opinion, the Swedes sound much more varied than the boys from down under.

One of Sweden’s most respected rock band the last 15 years.

That’s what it says in the promo email. And rightly so, in any case. Sure, you can hear many quotes from other great bands. But Bonafide have found their own style, varied Hard Rock, which is a lot of fun to listen to.

Lineup:

Pontus Snibb – Vocals, Guitar
Anders Rosell – Guitar
Martin Ekelund – Bass
Niklas Matsson – Drums, Vocals (on “Tonight I’m Wild”)
Nisse Hellberg – Vocals (on “Snacket”)
Pelle Jernryd – Lap Steel (on “Snacket”)

Track list:

• Are You Listening
• Hero To Zero
• Salvation
• Who’s Boss
• Snacket
• Dealt A Bad Hand
• Rumble
• Tonight I’m Wild
• Tommie Nine Fingers
• Little Miss Understood