Gotthard-Lipservice (2005)

Switzerland has given the world of rock a number of great bands that have kept the genre in their country at a high level. Bands like Krokus, Toad, Flame Dream, Coroner, and Gotthard, among many others, have always been highly regarded by rock music fans. Today, it's Gotthard's turn, a band that built a great reputation based on solid hard rock with classic influences and grandiose melodies. Their origins date back to 1992 in the city of Lugano, when bassist Marc Lynn and vocalist Steve Lee joined forces with the intention of founding a band that would satisfy their musical tastes. After recruiting guitarist Leo Leoni, drummer Henna Habegger, and keyboardist Pat Regan, they secured a contract with BMG to record several albums, the first of which was released in mid-1992. From their debut album, they showcased a sound reminiscent of 1970s hard rock with bluesy undertones, and in that vein, they continued with magnificent works such as "Dial Hard" (1994), "G" (1996), "Homerun" (2001), and "Human Zoo" (2003). Two years later, they returned with their best creative work, "Lipservice", in which they perfected their blend of powerful hard rock with evocative melodies, presenting a repertoire of superb compositions like "Nothing Left All", "Stay For The Night", "Cupid's Arrow", "All We Are", "Lift U Up", and "Anytime, Anywhere". However, several years later, their lead singer Steve Lee died in a tragic motorcycle accident in Las Vegas, a devastating event that cast doubt on the band's future. Eventually, after some time, the band recruited a new singer, Nic Maeder, who, despite his undeniable vocal range, lacked the exceptional talent of the late Steve Lee.