When Johan Liiva left from Arch Enemy in 2000, he and his old buddy drummer Man Thornell, with whom he played together in Furbowl band one decade earlier, they created Hearse. Hearse were created in 2001 and “Single Ticket To Paradise” is the fifth album that the band delivers. The particular record has nothing more to give in relation to their previous albums and I would characterize it as mediocrel. They characterize their sound as death n’ roll, but this doesn’t mean that their sound is this! I don’t think that death elements are apparent. Maybe they gave this description because Johan Liiva used to sing for Arch Enemy? Maybe because they are all from Sweden? Or maybe because Johan Liiva shares with us his and brutal (and normal) vocals? As far as Rock ’n’ roll elements…sure, there are many in this record!

Liiva’s voice shade can easy be notified by someone who has listened, even a little, Arch Enemy. Guitars (Mattias Ljung) are quite finished and songs such as “Misanthropic Charades”, “The Moth” and “Single Ticket To Paradise” submerge with heavy and dirty riffs. Appealing enough is the song “The Ferocious Embrace”, with some Spanish music elements and some excellent guitar parts. The melodies and guitars in this album make me describe it more power and extreme than death metal.

It’s worthy of note that Dan Swano (Opeth, Katatonia, Dissection) made the disc’s producing. Also the CD is available in limited edition that includes a bonus DVD filmed during a live appearance of the band in Holland, which was edited by Maurice Swinkels (Legion Of The Damned).