Although selling over 35 million albums worldwide, Sweet were never really given the same plaudits or receive the same worship as fellow Glam rock big hitters like Slade or T-Rex. But decades on from that glorious ’70s period, and with just the one original member from the classic lineup in Andy Scott, Sweet are still standing with their fifteenth studio effort, Full Circle.
Sweet – Fill Circle (Metalville)
Release Date: 20 September 2024
Words: Brian Boyle
For those who are just rediscovering the band and hoping it just follows on from their glory days might feel a little underwhelmed when they give this its virgin spin. But there is no need to be, as there are some truly great moments.
Granted, the chorus to opener Circus, does have glam leanings that may have given you a mini flashback and got your hopes up, but on the whole, this is good, honest British hard rock. Then it goes up a level and veers in an AOR direction with the ultra-smooth Don’t Bring Me Water.
Burning Like A Falling Star and Changes are jolly and polite with happy-clappy hooks but bloody impossible to ever truly love. That is far from the case with Defender and Everything, genuine bangers from the off and with choruses so good that you will be hoping your needle gets stuck.
Halfway through and, you will know tracks along the lines of The Ballroom Blitz, Blockbuster, and Fox On The Run will not be appearing, but Destination Hanover does do its best. With Andy Scott being the last remaining link to the good old days, trying to recreate the past with personnel that need looking up would be a monumental waste of time.
But what they’re doing here is worthwhile. The likes of Rising Up and Fire In My Heart would give American saccharine rockers Toto and Journey a run for their money, and with supremely talented lead vocalist Paul Manzi front and centre, they are doing their legacy no harm at all.
Full Circle is to be Sweet’s final album release, so clocking out on the title track was a no brainer. But do not expect a tearjerker. A smidgen of sentimentality, maybe, but the majority is a defiant blaze of glory.
Not the Sweet who made sky-high platform boots look extremely comfortable, but they still taste remarkably good.
