Strategy – Love Tactics

Strategy
Love Tactics
Label: Metalapolis Records
Out: April 11^th, 2025
Playing time: 51:41

‘New Wave Of German Melodic Rock’. This is how Strategy’s music is described in the press release. Strategy from Munich is one of the many young bands from Germany that are keeping the banner of Melodic Rock and AOR high. The band was founded by guitarists Lennard ‘Lenny’ Hammerer and Jakob Struve. As has often been the case before, I have to speculate about the date of the band’s founding. Facebook provides a clue. The first entry there dates back to the January 6^th, 2023. The debut album ‘Love Tactics’ was apparently already released in 2024, at least that’s what you can read in one place in the press release. Is April 11^th, 2025 (according to the same press release) the date of the re-release or has the release just been postponed due to the record deal with Metalapolis Records? I don’t know. But let’s let the music speak for itself.

Spherical synth sounds introduce ‘Passing Time’. But only briefly. The typical melodies of Melodic Rock can be heard very quickly. Singer Weazzel seems to have sprung from the era of eighties stadium rock. Both guitarists work well together on the guitar solo. The following title track ‘Love Tactics’ is a little heavier at the beginning. With well-placed riffs. keyboard melodies can be heard in the background. As in the previous song, the refrain is very catchy and easy to sing along to. Oh yes, you can also hear beautiful melodic arcs in ‘Catching A Feeling’. And of course, guitar riffs that fit the Melodic Rock. Once again, can be heard. Although ‘only’ a guest musician, Karl Ehbats contributes to the lively sound. At the beginning of ‘Close To Paradise’, the drums are booming and the riffs are played a little harder. But no, the melodic mid-tempo range is not abandoned. In my opinion, one of the highlights is the power ballad ‘Can’t Take It No Longer’. Another very catchy sing-along refrain. The keys push themselves a little more into the foreground. And the guitar solo is excellent. ‘Don’t Break Me’ starts with keyboard tapestries underpinned by subtle guitar staccatos. ‘All The Way’ is a little heavier again. Riffs and guitar melodies are again accompanied by keyboard tapestries. ‘Drowning In Heights’ starts as a contemplative ballad. Singer Weazzel is accompanied by electric piano and strings. But the song soon turns into a melodic mid-tempo rocker. The tempo picks up again towards the end. ‘With a playing time of almost eight minutes, “Time” is the longest song on the album. Synths can be heard at first. But then it gets fast again. The drums and guitars take on a high tempo. But with such an excessive length, the song naturally has to be varied. This is followed by a balladic part, later it becomes anthemic. Later, galloping riffs increase the tempo even further, underpinned by keyboard tapestries. This song is the absolute highlight of the album. Also thanks to the brilliant twin guitar solo. They are probably not played this fast on the entire album. Although not a bad song, the Yes cover ‘Into The Lens’ is only a little behind the previous monumental epic. And it also sounds very different from the original. In places, you are almost overrun by the mainstream. The radio edition of the ballad ‘Drowning In Heights’ is probably a kind of bonus track. I didn’t notice any major musical differences. Only the playing time is shorter. This should convince radio stations to include this song in their playlists.

Strategy revive the spirit of the eighties. Melodic Rock that is actually suitable for being celebrated in large stadiums. Embedded in a modern sound costume. That’s fifty minutes of Rock with a huge amount of fun. And it’s not just the bonus ballad ‘Drowning In Heights’ that has airplay qualities, but all the songs on this album.

Strategy – Drowning In Heights: https://youtu.be/3FpM1-t7AKM?si=C2wGQKNuOBN7Q0a2

Lineup:

Weazzel – Vocals, Bass
Lennart Hammerer – Guitar
Jakob Struve – Guitar
Tobias Reinhardt – Drums

Guests:

Karl Ehbats – Keyboards
Isolde Schmidt-Voigt – Backing Vocals

Track list:

• Passing Time
• Love Tactics
• Catching A Feeling
• Close To Paradise
• Can’t Take It No Longer
• (Don’t) Break Me
• All The Way
• Drowning In Heights
• Time
• Into The Lens
• Drowning In Heights (Radio Edit)