metal4life.co.uk

"The new Led Zeppelin? Well, I would never be cruel enough to tarnish a band with that tag, but they’ve certainly taken a lot of their swagger from the overrated seventies beat combos second album. Fortunately for me, given my distaste for all things Page and Perce like, they then head rapidly off into Uriah Heep and Deep Purple territory, ramping it up with some Monster Magnet riffing and lots of crazy songs about magic mushrooms, bikes and chicks. Which seems like an excellent way to pass the time. It certainly makes a change for a Swedish band not to be releasing a death metal album and this is a highly enjoyable classic rock release. In my world you can’t go far wrong with songs called "Groovy Space Chick", "Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” and “Plain ‘n’ Foxy”. The production is a bit muddy, but this is a self released album, so they can be forgiven. Vocalist Lasse (who is a man – in joke for Scottish readers) has a fine blues holler – not surprising when he cites Warren Haynes, Leslie West, Steve Overland and Jimmy Barnes as influences -, John whips out his Hammond and drenches the songs with some fine Ken Hensley moments and guitarist Hawkan knows how to rip up a riff. Fourteen tracks are perhaps 3 songs too many, but at its peak, in places it’s almost like Paul Rodgers has been jamming with Jon Lord and Dave Wyndorf, and that would be a mighty fine place to be. An unexpected delight."

monolith.gr

“Atomic Fruit” is the debut release (as far as I know) of this Swedish heavy rock band that has set the aim to play good music for fun. Let me get to the point of “Atomic Fruit”. “Atomic Fruit” sounds to my ears like an exhibition of all the patterns of the dominant heavy rock form in 70’s. Deep Purple must be an obsession for the band members, but a few Free influences and some small portions of the Uriah Heep magic are also evident. Additionally the band has incorporated some AOR elements (like those in “Groovy Space Chick”), which turns this CD into a heaven for all the sworn fans of hard rock, sand, sun, bikes, chicks and so on. However there are some drawbacks in this release. The main problems of “Atomic Fruit” are firstly its duration (over one hour, fourteen tracks) and secondly the quality of many tracks. As you may understand these two facts consequently lead to some boring and tiring periods. Finally, the production could be better, as we are not used to this kind of productions especially from Swedish musicians, even when it comes to the ’70-like sound. Josh’s Appletree is surely a band with good and honest intensions. They are doing their fun and that’s ok for me. But if the band wants to chase something bigger and more serious, then they must approach their music in a more serious way.

spacejunkies.net

There are currently 14 tracks to check out on this group's website to get a sneak peek at their new album "Atomic Fruit." My first listen was "Tracks of the Blues" and it rocks. This is hardcore classic rock similar to early AC/DC. This song features hard driving guitar riffs with a heavy beat and strong vocals. I continued my journey and gave a listen to "The Deal." The riffs continued to get better with this song. All rockers will appreciate this stuff. Quite pleased with this track, I moved on to "Rock'n'Roll Star." This song is a little different from the first two. It's a little cleaner and not as heavy except for the vocals. Moving on to "Tombstone Rider," I was highly impressed with the riffs, the melody, the lyrics, everything. This is probably one of the best songs to jam to if you're a guitar lover. The last song I checked out from these guys was "Devils Machine." This one, true to form, has awesome riffs with a heavy melody and strong vocals. My advice: keep an eye on this band. All rockers will appreciate the tracks these guys are putting out for our listening pleasure. [Stephanie Deskins]

rockarolla.com.ar

Suecos haciendo hard rock? Tal como lo leen, ya que Josh's Appletree es un quinteto oriundo de Suecia y que consiste en Lars Hietala en voz, PH Karlsson en batería, Jugge Lindhult en bajo, Hawkan en guitarra y John Lindholm en teclados. “Atomic fruit” es el debut de una banda que, según sus miembros, comenzó como una diversión. La cosa prosperó, se dieron cuenta que pintaba para mas, y se decidieron a grabar un disco. Y que disco!! Josh's Appletree (extraño nombre, no?) ha creado un álbum que es un homenaje al hard rock de los años 70’s, con Deep Purple y Rainbow como guías, con Hammonds omnipresentes (escuchen el arranque de “Garish gas”), y riffs dignos del maestro Blackmore (chequear “Hangman”). Pero esto no termina aquí, ya que es posible entrever un poco de Whitesnake ("Tracks of the blues"), y hasta Black Sabbath ("The hard road"). Lars Hietala (su voz "gastada" es perfecta para el estilo), es junto al tecladista Lidholm, y sin desmerecer al resto de los integrantes, los grandes responsables de que Josh's Appletree logre excelentes composiciones llenas de feeling y groove, gancheras y sólidas, aunque no demasiado originales, si bien dudo que esto sea un factor negativo, porque “Atomic Fruit” es una exhibición de los patrones seguidos por las grandes bandas de los 70’s, y esto es justamente la intención del grupo. A pesar de la duración del álbum (mas de una hora), los catorce tracks son llevaderos y redundan en un trabajo sin fisuras. Habrá que estar atentos a su próximo trabajo y ver si se atreven a ir un poco mas allá, adicionando mas elementos personales a su música. Tal vez sea lo único que les falte para obtener un mayor reconocimiento a nivel mundial.

rockumweb.com

Como lo he venido escribiendo en varios reviews anteriores de Rockum , uno de los mejores países donde se cultiva las mejores bandas que yo halla escuchado es Suecia si señores Suecia , esta vez la banda se llama Josh`s Appletree cuales influencias viene de bandas mas de los 70s aunque el rocknroll clásico esta esparcido por todas partes , el cimiento va desde bandas como Deep Purple esas magistrales épocas de Blackmore donde con Gillan pavimentaron mucho de este camino conocido como la autopista del rocknroll . Este álbum de 14 temas llamado Atomic Fruit destaca sin dudar alguna la calidad de las cuerdas a cargo de Mr Hawkan , antes de empezar a redactar esta critica, escuche muchos días antes este álbum y lo estuve tocando en mi habitación noche tras noche y les cuento. es un gran álbum aunque el formato que recibí no era uno de los mejores ( cdr) pero en fin lo importante siempre digo que es la música . Definitivamente en estas 14 canciones comenzando con Garish Gas , Tracks Of The Blues , posee ese sonido 70s pero si vez de otro lado la canción The Hard Road podemos encontrar melodías muy contemporáneas , quizás Lars Hietala en la voz tiende a rozar el estilo de Chris Cornell , pues si hacemos memoria el es un fanatico de los bandas de los 70s , mucho me trae a la mente el estilo demostrado desde el Badmotorfinger hasta su paso por el proyecto Hunger Strike esto que les comento es una apreciación personal que no esta de mas darle una revisada .En Groovy Space Chick realmente es un groovy de guitarra donde Hawkan se apodera de la canción , por ciertos segundos me recuerda a esos grandes bluseros , seguimos con The Deal , Mr Lizard esta canción es una joya total , desde el inicio hasta el final , todo esta en su lugar correcto , no puedo quejarme aquí en nada , Charismatic Woman con un inicio muy sobrio desemboca en un estruendo hard rockero , de allí sigue Rock’n’Roll Star. al mismo estilo del famoso Highway star , definitivamente esta banda seria ideal para hacerle un tributo a Deep Purple , ellos se encargarían solos sin ayuda de nadie mas . Esta banda que empezó como una diversión , realmente tiene un muy buen potencial y es una de las pocas que conozco que aun siguen sembrando ese valor generacional de los 70s en pleno siglo 2000 , esto es rescatable . pues al mismo estilo de Spider & snakes , ellos siguen siendo ellos mismos y no quebrantan sus gustos y mas aun siguen componiendo música con muchísima influencia de esos años . Creo que este tipo de actitudes son necesarias no solo en Latinoamérica sino en todas partes del mundo , ser uno mismo y demostrarlo. Esta banda esta para muchas mas investigaciones , a todos mis lectores les pediría que traten de conocer mas sobre Josh`s Appletree pues bandas como estas existen muy pocas.

strikemet.com Reviewed on portuguese

JOSH’S APPLETREE - ATOMIC FRUIT
Banda sueca formada em maio/2003 primeiramente por pura diversão e para longas jams entre os seus componentes, composta por Lasse(v)Jugge(b) John(tecl)Hawkan(gt) e P.H(bat) mas que tornou-se mais séria à partir de que pessoas ligadas à música escutaram-nos e convenceram os rapazes à fazerem algo mais sério. Que temos em mãos é o resultado deste trabalho sério, uma d.tape com quatorze composições próprias aonde desfilam excelente heavy rock puramente setentista, com muitos dos velhos Deep Purple/Whitesnake com um feeling bluesy , com destaque ao uso em destaque do órgão Hammond e seus belos trimbes, cozinha rítmica sólida e competentes, boas vocalizações e um guitarrista que sabe aonde e como fazer, sem exageros; composições muito legais e contagiantes, puro classic rock de qualidade. This swedish quintet plays a excellent heavy rock with 100% 70’s influences, a heavy and solid Hammond organ sound,good vocals, fine guitar player, solid rhythm section and very good compositions, classic rock for the 21th century! (Eduardo de Souza Bonadia)
granderock.com


This is the debut album from a band that (according to its members) started as a fun thing.
The musicians started jammin’ and realized that the outcome was good, so they wrote some songs, based on their jam sessions, and released a CD.
The roots of the sound go back to the hard rock of the mid-70’s, and reminds me a lot of bands like Deep Purple (especially because of the way the keys are played - Hammond), Whitesnake and the likes. However the approach here is (of course) a lot more modern and heavy, I can say, as some tracks flirt with heavy metal forms.
Good compositions, “loose” feeling, a lot of fun and heavy rock is what you will find here!
Good effort, for die-hard rockers!


ffm-rock.com



Vor ein paar Wochen hatte die Formation Josh’s Appletree mit uns Kontakt aufgenommen, um sich vorzustellen und nun flatterte mir ein Briefumschlag aus Schweden ins Haus, dem die Promo-CD „Atomic Fruit“ beilag. Neugierig legte ich sie in den CD-Player und war von Anfang an begeistert! Die Band wurde im Mai 2003 gegründet, um gemeinsam zu jammen, Songs schreiben und einfach nur Spaß zu haben. Aber anscheinend haben in Schweden auch gleich einige Leute erkannt, dass die Jungs mehr Potential haben, als dass sie in ihrem Proberaum „verkümmern“ sollten und so gingen sie ins Studio, um ihre erste Platte aufzunehmen. Ihre Musik ist voller Liebe zum Detail, im Stil der 70er und 80er, klingt ein bisschen nach Whitesnake und ist einfach nur schöööööööööööööön! „Sit back comfortably, crank it up … you’ll get blown away – it’s a promise!“ schreiben sie und da haben sie nun wahrlich nicht übertrieben!!! Mit der 14-Track-CD ist ihnen ein Werk gelungen, das mich mehr als nur begeistert hat! Das Teil hat so viel Pfeffer, dass man gleich mitrocken möchte! Den Spaß, den die Band an ihrer Musik hat, vermittelt sie dem Zuhörer auf’s Trefflichste! Die CD soll im Laufe des Jahres erscheinen. Derzeit ist die Band noch auf der Suche nach einer geeigneten Plattenfirma … bleibt zu hoffen, dass diese Suche bald ein glückliches Ende findet und der Silberling bald für alle erhältlich sein wird … ES LOHNT SICH! Werft mal einen Blick auf die Homepage der Band – dort könnt Ihr Euch selbst überzeugen!

Tracklist:
Garish Gas
Tracks Of The Blues
The Hard Road
Groovy Space Chick
The Deal
Mr. Lizard
Charismatic Woman
Rock’n’Roll Star
Tombstone Rider
Theme Of J-A
Hear Me Moan
Plain’n Foxy
Hangman
Devils Machine



top2004 list at metalheart.se


Robert Ryttman
1. Qoph - Pyrola
2. Wasa Express - Psychedelic Jazz Trance
3. Haggard - Eppur Si Muove
4. Zello - First Chapter, Second Verse
5. New York Dolls - Live From Royal Festival 2004
6. Nightwish - Once
7. Neal Morse - One
8. U.D.O. - Thunderball
9. Travers & Appice - It Takes A Lot Of Balls
10. Svarte Pan - Nattvandring
11. Black Bonzo - Lady Of The Light
12. Josh´s Appletree - Atomic Fruit
13. Wild Evil Entertainment Dept. - Wild Evil Entertainment Dept
14. Rammstein - Reise, Reise
15. Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby
16. Patrik Carlsson: Phraseology
17. Raza De Odio: La Nueva Alarma
18. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
19. Deltahead - Peace And Junk And Drums
20. Nathaniel Mayer - I Just Want To Be Held
21. FastFuel - PainPleasureClub
22. Paatos - Kallocain
23. Tom Waits - Real Gone
24. Enid - Gradwanderer
25. Enemies Swe. - Behind Enemy Lines
26. Theatres Des Vampires - Night Breed Of Macabria
27. Truckfighters Vs. Firestone - Fuzzsplit Of The Century
28. The Illuminati - The Illuminati
29. Rush -Feedback
30. Doro - Classic Diamonds 2004



tartareandesire.com


Who told that Sweden is famous only for the death metal bands? Here we have a bright exception. This band is deeply imbibed by the 70ties rock style. Rich keyboards, slide guitars, nostalgic melodies, peculiar, surrealist names (starting from the strange name of the band: "Josh's Appletree", release: "Atomic Fruit", and track titles such as "Garish Gas", "Groovy Space Chick", "Tombstone Rider"). If you ask your friends after having listened this: "When do you think has this been released?", I bet the most probable answer would be "30 years ago". The band started as a fun thing in May 2003. The main thing was to jam, create songs and have fun. Fancy to have taken it more seriously what would have happened! The first impression is that sound like "the younger Swedish cousins of Deep Purple", especially the keyboard player should have had Jon Lord as his teenage idol. For example the beginning of the "Garish Gas" resembles the respective of "Hush" or the riffs of "Hangman" are influenced by "Smoke in the Water" and many other numerous cases. I am curious to learn what would be the reactions of Deep Purple members (former and current) if they listen to this! However after a more careful approach one could notice that they step with one foot on Deep Purple and so tradition and with the other one on the other 70ties bands like Free ( see "Mr. Lizard", "Charismatic Woman" tracks) and but also on modern quality A.O.R bands and may be a bit on Spiritual Beggars at their softer moments. The singer's voice has something from Ian Gillan and Paul Rodgers. The compositions, although based on well known forms, are catchy, solid, very powerful and pleasant to be listened. The musicians are gifted, talented and unfold flawlessly their music abilities. The only disadvantage is that some songs become a bit boring especially the last ones like "Hear Me Moan", "Plain and Foxy" and "Devil's Machine", which is long and contains protracted "dialogues" between guitar and keyboards. One could also argue that the repetition of well known musical forms might be boring. When a band plays based on nice and very beloved but recognisable melodies looses novelty. But even imitating Deep Purple and 70ties sound nowadays, that we are infested by numerous talentless bands, is something important. At least it is an indication of music skills. Let alone that Josh's Appletree have strong compositions (not very original actually) and musical variety. The more I listen to them, the more I trace new elements among the well known patterns. I am eager to listen to their second release and hope to go even further away by adding more personal elements in their music. Deep Purple and 70ties Rock fans (and not only) should check this band imminently!

Panayiotis Papandreopoulos


rocktimes.de


Now what's this? Deep Purple?
Not really - but the sound coming from the boxes is no less than the Opener "Garish Gas", and the Hammond, which is played by John Lindholm, absolutely reminds of the great Deep Purple times. John is in the lineup of "Josh's Apple Tree", a band from Sweden - and somehow the air up there must bear some magic in it, because Sweden (increasingly) seems to be the supplier of Class A European rockmusic.
"Atomic Fruit" is the first release of the band - a Promo CD available through selfproduction. This should be changed, because this release is Label-worthy. Logically, the music does not seem alien - to this the guys also state that they only started the band in order to make good music. "You could actually just buy the music at a Second hand store, however it could never match the fun of playing this style of music yourself, where no limits or boundries can be set." - so they say. And to that I say "You're right boys." and this particular fun and the urge and will to play can also be sensed in you and your music. - Exactly this feeling is transferred to the listener.
"The Hard Road", excellent stoner-intro, the title is groovy, and is nicely underlined by the Hammond, the perfect interaction of the band, and Lars Hietala having the exact matching voice to it - although he only came to do his mic-job when he really really had to. PH Karlsson (Drums) and Jugge Lindhult (Bass) provide the necessary backbone in form of a powerful fundament.
Hawkan, Guitarist and Lap-Steeler, puts up various highlights through skilled Wah-Wah sessions, ("Groovy Space Chick", "Theme of J-A"), hilarious guitar solos, ("The Deal" - where PH Karlsson is allowed to really smash those drums!) - In general, every musician gets enough free space to go berserk and do his thing, without that either of the tracks get detrimental. It's actually quite the contrary!
In this style Track and Track go together - a burst of force for the listener and especially at the track "Mr. Lizard" it appears that Josh's Apple Tree do not only have fun making the music, but also that they can channel this joy in a succesful way: Brilliantly produced, always knowing and aware of, when there's need for a break in a track, how and when the mixture of solo and vocals has the best effect. It's tremendous fun to listen to these results in form of skilled Tracks.
"Theme of J-A" is surely the hymn of the boys, since I can most certainly imagine that hundreds of people would be singing along on this track, when the band plays it live.
Brutally nice: "Plain n' Foxy" - Powerplay, the guitar rolls and slams, and so do the vocals. Suddenly there appears a quite hilarious break, then a following silence, only with the idea to go berserk in the very end without mercy, so much, that the guitar almost surrenders. Then it "dooms" once again, and the guitarwall builds up itself in front of you once more, threatening and enormous. Wohoo...now that's a track...
A Harley opens up for the "Devils Machine", which sadly is the last track. At this point all the essentials are (once more) united and brought into play. Hawkan, my friend, thanks for the CD, and just because the Second-Hand-Shop thing was mentioned in the beginning: I'm sure "Atomic Fruit" will be one of those CD's, which hardly anyone would valuate as being secondary.

Ulli Heiser, 27.03.2005


(Translated by Danny Japsen)


www.stonerrock.free.fr



Comme je vous ai raconté plus haut, j'adore la jeunesse et tout le tintouin qui va avec... Mais j'ai aussi une préférence pour tous ces groupes qui sur le tard, se trouve une envie folle de la jouer eux aussi fier du manche et tout le tra lala... Bien sûr, quand on a travailler quelques années justement le manche afin de se perfectionner, d'embellir la dextérité et tout le tra la la...!!! On arrive forcement un jour, à forcer l'admiration de ces pairs... (surtout quand on a un petit peu de génie) JOSH'S APPLE TREE est de ces groupes là, qui arrive sur le tard mais qui fait un travail extraordinaire... Imaginer un petit peu un croisement entre un BADGER en furie, un QUARTZ des grands jours et un TRAFFIC qui sulfate "gimme somme lovin" comme des fous qu'ils étaient... Imaginer cette enchevêtrement de riffs, d'orgue et de rythmique phénoménale, imaginer un chanteur au diapason du groupe et vous aurez JOSH'S APPLE TREE...

PAT LAHO "the little big boss man" 8,5/10