The band, Suits Blvd (short for Suits Boulevard) was formed by Armin Kavousi (Vocals), Peter Scherfig (Guitar), Mads Albertsen (Guitar) and Mads Lindum (Drums) in December 2013, with the vision to create music, which emotionally brought you back to a certain point in life. In the summer 2014, percussionist Ashok Kumaran joined the band, and was followed in January 2015, by bass player Thomas Laursen. In less than 12 months the band has appeared on MTV, VH1, CMT and VEVO, as well as charting on radio stations in Canada and Europe. They have filmed a documentary series on the facts of being an upcoming band, played more than 60 concerts and written and recorded their debut album, “Oblivious”, which was released in January 2016.
Suits Boulevard is amazing. They write complex, emotional music, never sound corny, and they can flat-out run a chill down your spine. The vocals by Armin Kavousi are simply astounding: he can sing soft and beautifully and conversely go all out and yell. During all of the yelling, however, he never sounds untalented; he is able to keep the high quality of his voice. That’s very rare to find these days. And last but certainly not least, Mads Lindum’s heart-pounding drums are able to pick a song up from a slow melody to all-out rage and then slow it back down again. Another thing I can pick out is that I like the bass on this album. Thomas Laursen uses it to great effect, keeping the flow of the songs together, allowing Peter Scherfig and Mads Albertsen’s guitars to play more complicated and varied riffs.
You won’t hear a million flying solos on this album. If that’s what you’re looking for in music, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Suits Blvd simply rock in a different kind of way. Sure, their music is riff-based, marked by plenty of visceral rock nuances, and amidst all these complex passages, the guitar work is simply one of a kind. The guitar lines bleed atmosphere through and through, in a very unique way. I wish I could describe each track in great detail, but it would be impossible to do so without missing vital moments. The lyrics alone make you dig into yourself, introspect, realize what’s there and what isn’t and what should be. This band is never afraid to push a screwdriver into the most sensitive places in the human psyche, and this album does precisely that in places.
Suits Blvd’s blend of amazing lyrics, musical talent and Kavousi’s vocals creates a sound that is somber, disturbing and powerful…and everything else to the contrary. They have no limits and no bounds. Not less so than on the title track “Oblivious”, the slow burner “Broken Wings” and “Everything”, the mid-tempo rocker “Like a Lion”, the single “Ocean of Lights” and the absolute standout for me, “Imperfect”. But every song on this record is compelling and thought-provoking, and will draw listeners like moths to a flame. With plenty of buildups and emotional crescendos, “Oblivious” resonates with vocal beauty and lyrical artistry.
The major thing about Suits Boulevard is that you cannot take their music at face value, not for one single second. If you look at them from only one perspective, then you will completely miss the point of what they are trying to show us. Every track on here has its own special sound and part, in it that makes you want to listen to it over and over. “Oblivious” is an excellent alternative rock album by a band reaching out towards the height of their powers, and they are finding it in every direction possible!
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