The Poodles: Discography (2006-2013)

The Poodles are a Swedish glam metal band that debuted in 2006 to Top Five success with the smash hit single "Night of Passion" and topped the charts a few years later with "Raise the Banner." Founded in 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden, the band is comprised of Jakob Samuel (vocals), Henrik Bergqvist (guitar), Pontus Egberg (bass), and Christian Lundqvist (drums). They rose to fame in 2006 as contestants in that year's Swedish Melodifestivalen song contest, finishing in fourth place with "Night of Passion." The song was a smash hit, going all the way to number two on the Swedish singles chart. The accompanying full-length debut album, Metal Will Stand Tall (2006), also proved highly successful, reaching the Top Five and spawning the follow-up singles "Metal Will Stand Tall," a Top Five hit, and "Song for You," a Top Ten hit. Second album Sweet Trade (2007) was similarly popular, reaching the Top Ten and spawning the Top Five hit "Line of Fire" (a collaboration with E-Type) and the Top Ten hit "Seven Seas." In 2008 The Poodles topped the charts with "Raise the Banner," a one-off single included on a new edition of Sweet Trade released the same year. Third album Clash of the Elements (2009) continued the band's success, reaching the Top Five and spawning the singles "One out of Ten" and "I Rule the Night."

by Jason Birchmeier , AMG

There is a real renaissance happening in Europe, with some young guns doing great business actually playing traditional melodic hard rock. What a concept!

The Poodles are 4 of Sweden's best session guys (members of Talisman, Lions Share, Zan Clan, Dalton), who first started playing together as a cover band to huge audiences. Best known to readers to this site will be guitarist Pontus Norgen who is famous for his work in Humanimal and Great King Rat among other things, and incidentally is also Europe's live sound guy.

Metal Will Stand Tall is an apt title. Along with the two aforementioned artists, this album sees the guys deliver the best style and attitude of the classic era of commercial hard rock mixed with an updated and gigantic production sound.

There is no reason why any fan of the old school glory days shouldn't like all three albums as all three are equally brilliant.

Where The Poodles are a little different from Wig Wam and perhaps even The Darkness is their approach to the music.

The Poodles are a little darker, a little more serious and a little heavier than Wig Wam and more guitar orientated than Brother Firetribe.

A few tracks stand out first time around, but a dozen listens in proves there are no fillers present at all. This is a pretty varied album and the change in vibe between tracks takes a little getting used to.

At first glance, you would perhaps deduct that the album is not as consistent or cohesive as the awesome Wig Wam album, but after living with this for a few weeks I'm inclined to think it is every bit as good.

I generally prefer things a little darker and moodier and while there are a couple of great feel-good party rockers here (Metal Will Stand Tall, Number One), the overall vibe is more serious and tracks like Echoes From The Past, Night Of Passion and Shadows all rock hard and feature very memorable choruses, but also have a serious edge to them.

The band has their own way of doing things. Take the intense moody rock ballad Song For You. It features the same dark groove apparent throughout the album, but in a twist features guest vocals from Jonas Samuelsson-Nerbe, who I guess is the Swedish answer to Pavarotti!

The uptempo and anthemic Lie To Me has a strong contemporary edge and Rockstar is a brilliant melodic pop rocker with a slow beat and quirky melody. Even the cover of Ultravox's 80s new wave pop hit Dancing With Tears In My Eyes has a darker, more menacing twist.

The big power ballad of the album closes things out. Crying is a radio hit in waiting and complete with orchestral parts ensures the album ends on the highest of highs.

I love the crunchy guitar sound, I love the very melodic but powerful lead vocals and i love the pounding rhythm section.

In a word - essential. For all those that crave fresh talent, but with the attitude, sound and energy of the classic era of melodic hard rock - these guys are for you. I would recommend this to all fans of the genre, be it American or European or elsewhere. The guys have major crossover appeal and the huge wall of sound featured here, mixed with some classic rockers makes for a truly joyous record.

~ melodicrock

The Poodles stormed onto the scene along with Brother Firetribe and Wig Wam as a breath of fresh melodic air from Europe.

On album number two the feedback has been mixed. I hear some don't like it as much and I hear others like it more. That's what happens when the formula of the debut is changed and that is what happened here.

The band doesn't sound radically different or anything like that. But their sound has been toughened up and now sounds a little more European melodic metal than the debut album which featured a few different approaches with the song delivery.

This album is tighter, more urgent and heavier…but left behind is a little of the variety and instant chorus melodies of the debut.

Still, what we do have is another fine record filled with in your face uptempo melodic hard rockers as only the Scandinavian's can deliver.

Something that attracted me to the band in the first place was their thumping rhythm and heavy beats and the opening three songs of Sweet Trade cash in on that again.

The songs get better and better with repeat listens, but it is only seconds before the beats crash through the speakers and belt the listener about the head.

Flesh And Blood and Streets Of Fire both rock with urgency, but it is the more melodic and anthemic Seven Seas which gives me chills.

Other highlights are the barnstorming hard rock of the suitably titled Thunderball; the fast rocking but melodic Reach The Sky; the huge lighters-in-the-air ballad We Are One; the harmony filled melodic rock of Without You; the monstrous anthemic Band Of Brothers (brilliant and both songs more like the debut) and the balladesque anthem Shine which closes the album.

Highlights as you can see are numerous and the production quality of the album is once again unquestionably great!

The Poodles have their own sound and style after just two albums. Both are fine releases – this new album is more consistent in approach, but the debut remains my favourite for being more melodic and a little lighter overall. Still, perhaps the third album will mix the best of both worlds and if so – a masterpiece is just round the corner.

~ melodicrock

Their debut Metal Will Stand Tall was a sensational, attention grabbing slice of melodic hard rock Scandinavian style, but the heavier follow up Sweet Trade lost a little of that magic, although still got played almost as much as the debut.

Clash Of The Elements sees the band back on top with an album that blends the best of both worlds – a heavier, punchier sound, but equal attention paid to the quality of the song writing and making sure those choruses really deliver.

My one problem here is that the band kicks off the album with a really poor choice of song. Too Much Of Everything hasn't got the punch or the quality of the rest of the album and in my view, the attempt here to be commercial up front fails the album as a whole.

Second track Caroline is a far superior track and a true ass-kicker. Its monster beat, monster chorus and contagious spirit would be a perfect album opener. I skip track 1 each time this CD goes on.

And Like No Tomorrow is the perfect follow-on from Caroline. Less intense, but another huge chorus and immediately likeable.

One Out Of Ten is a monster ballad as most will know by now, followed up by another ear crunching rocker in I Rule The Night.

Elsewhere on the album Give Me A Sign is as good as anything off the debut – perfect commercial hard rock with an anthemic chorus; the moody ballad Can't Let You Go follows 3 individually diverse album tracks; and then the best track of all – the absolute monster anthem that is Don't Rescue Me. Brilliant!

The album closes with a double shot of hard rock and then another anthem ballad Wings Of Destiny, which features some fantastic vocals and harmonies. Another killer track from an album that already delivers several classics.

The new general release version of this album from Blistering Records contains an acoustic version of the track I Rule The Night and two additional video clips (I Rule The Night and Like No Tomorrow).
The Bottom Line

In a word - essential! This is simply a great hard rock record and for me puts the band back on the map as far as anticipating what will come next. Fans of European melodic hard rock should not be without. Their best and most consistent record to date.

~ melodicrock

This Swedish quartet has been around for some years now. After 3 albums and a single live release, they have a new record by the name of “Performocracy” and it’s sounds killer! The first thing you will notice about THE POODLES is that they look like they were taken out from the L.A. Glam Metal scene of the 80s; dyed hair, makeup, tight pants - all the deal. But on the other hand, they have a modern sound and a modern feel that made them sound unlike it. Their sound is like a twist of MOTLEY CRUE, IRON MAIDEN, BON JOVI and even the early U2 especially on the mellow songs.

From the first track, “I Want It All”, this is an original song not to be confused with the QUEEN classic; you will hear that these guys really know what they’re doing. The song has an awesome intro that works really well as the album's intro and set the vibe for the record. In addition, we can also see that the band knows really good how to write catchy choruses even though, the track's chorus is not as strong as the rest of them, but it still sits well.

From the beginning to end, this album will take you on a journey through the worlds of Hard Rock, Glam Metal, and Heavy Metal with a very melodic and formidable structure. The songs are catchy, yet not in a Justin Beeber sort of way. These guys can rock hard as seen for example on “Your Time Is Now”, which is the heaviest song on the record, a very powerful Heavy Metal song with a badass riff. On the other hand, they have the power ballads like “As Time Is Passing” that is a great power ballad that truly shows what a great voice Jakob has and so it his range. However, one thing is missing in this song and that is the guitar solo, instead of a guitar solo after the break they go into this catchy vocal break that is cool but from my end, it ruined the build up of the song. So as you all can see, THE POODLES can do it all and do it good.

Production wise, the album sounds amazing! All four of the band members are incredible musicians and know how to make the band sound good and not only themselves. Henrik Bergqvist's guitar work is very good, he can do it all and he does it without taking the focus out of the other band members. I especially liked his use of delay and other effects in his rhythm sections. The production of Mats Valentineis great, he achieved a sound that is a mix of a live filling yet very produced and full of effects and synth stuff that make the songs sound depth, and off course with an excellent job. Tobias Lindell did the mixing of the album, this one is really a treat!

THE POODLESjust as AVENGED SEVENFOLD, HINDER and CRASHDIET made the music they grow up listening to but put their stand on it and it sounds great, fresh and fun to listen if you like the sub-genre. The only thing that I noticed is that THE POODLES don’t have a line, the songs sound great but their all over the place, which can be good, yet, if this was the debut album of the band it could have gotten the impression that these guys don't have a style of the own. However, their style is Rock N' Roll, and everything that they have done is Rock N' Roll just as MOTORHEAD and IRON MAIDEN always said all throughout their careers.

by Federico Taich, metal-temple

THE POODLES is a Glam / Hard Rock band from Stockholm in Sweden. They were formed in the fall of 2005. The debut album “Metal Will Stand Tall” was released in 2006, second effort “Sweet Trade” was released in 2007, third album "Clash of the Elements” in 2009, in 2011 album “Performocracy” and now coming in with the fifth album, "Tour de Force".

I have to share it with you that I was thrilled to review this new album as a fan of the band that has been enjoying the power and the energy of their songs. “En För Alla För En”, came as a bonus, took me by surprise that I really liked. It is the official theme song for the Swedish hockey team which will be used when the 2013 World Championships of Ice Hockey visit Stockholm this month. This powerful sing-along result is collaboration between songwriters Anders Wikström (TREAT) and Fredrik Thomander (SCORPIONS, TREAT, GOTTHARD) and THE POODLES. First time I hear the band singing in Swedish. This is amazing lively track and melodic as hell! “40 Days And 40 Nights” is first single of the new album which greatly shows that THE POODLES are still in perfect form, Pop / Rock at its best. “Leaving The Past To Pass” is beautiful ballad, violin & piano with an amazing high climate, choir singing gently as backup. Opener “Misery Loves Company” is another highlight with plenty of power, nice guitars and cheerfulness (though the title), along with fine melodies. “Viva Democracy” is a killer, with low tuned guitars swinging its catchiness all around, love that track with a great build up. Henrik Bergqvist is a master at work, playing tremendous guitar solos and catchy riffs, Jakob Samuel has wonderful strapping voice, force, sensitive, melody and clear. His voice is special no doubt, always easy to recognise that it is Jakob's singing. “Happily Ever After” is another cheery dose groovy bass, sing along for the fans and a peak solo moment.

Worth to listen are also: “Now Is The Time” with much dynamism and easiness, “Godspeed” with fantastic stronger riffs and notable solos, melodic “Only Just Begun” with low tuned guitars, catchy “Miracle” with heavier riffs & following last is “Going Down” with several other crunchier slides of fun.

This album is a work of art with so many catchy melodies, power and the experience dripping right out of it. The engineering done is so good, I could notice every instrument and channel. Fans of matured Glam Metal and Hard Rock with ounces of melodies will wish to apprehend this one fast.

by Katarzyna Zakolska, metal-temple