THE BIG DEAL – Electrified

Serbian band The Big Deal released a very confident debut in 2022’s ‘First Bite’. Although their music wasn’t particularly original, the album’s best tracks showcased talented musicians, capable of sharing a huge sound, and whose brand of melodic rock and metal consistently hit the mark with strong callbacks to Pretty Maids and other Euro fare.

Following the album’s release, guitarist Srdjan Brankovic made a great contribution to Ronnie Romero’s ‘Raised On Radio’, but then seemed to disappear. Considering he guested on a number of albums up to this point, his relative quietness came as a surprise, but his fans will certainly welcome his return here, and find plenty to enjoy within his work on this second release from The Big Deal. Much like before, the best material places Brankovic’s guitar playing rather highly in the end mix, but there’s very much the feeling that this is a genuine band project, rather than merely just being the Srdjan show with a few in-house hired hands.

Drenched in huge guitar sounds and sharing a very European flavour, ‘Survivor’ shares a mid tempo riff that sounds like a throwback to 90s melodic rock (at its most unfashionable point) crossed with the more melodic aspects of Nightwish. The blend of keyboards that are inspired by Touch albums and a vocal that’s more closely inspired by later symphonic metal works very well indeed. The sizeable musical backdrop allows Ana Nikolic plenty of scope for a great vocal too, and as before, her accented delivery actually suits the bombastic melody. The Big Deal make no attempt at re-invention here, but between a great riff, a massively retro keyboard solo and grand, piano based intro (supplied by Nevena Brancovic), they re-introduce themselves with a massive amount of gusto. Sliding into ‘Like A Fire’, the band strip back some of their bombast, and opt for a speed driven slice of melodic metal which allows Srdjan an opportunity to drop some great choppy guitar work between the more melodic elements. Ana and Nevena fill a really hooky chorus with superb harmony vocals, which results in something that, if you’re already familiar with The Big Deal’s debut album ‘First Bite’, will certainly appeal.

Cranking the riffs even harder, the intro to ‘Burnin’ Up’ sounds like a cross between Judas Priest circa 1984 and a vintage slice of fromage from Yngwie Malmsteen, with Srdjan delivering some hefty chords interspersed with busy fills. Once the drums and keys kick in, it doesn’t actually let up. Edging further towards a melodic power metal sound, the band offer one of their most energised performances: the main riffs chug at speed; thanks to a great production job, Marko Milojevic’s drums add a massive punch throughout, and some full throttle keyboard playing finds Nevena unleashing her inner Derek Sherinian. Naturally, Srdjan matches the superb keyboard work with a hefty solo that borders on an all round shred-fest, really adding to the excitement. There are melodic elements here, too, of course, and everything is held together very naturally by a harmony filled chorus hook that adds something a little catchier to this boisterous workout. For those who love melodic metal with a distinctly European edge, this track is likely to be an instant favourite.

‘Break Down The Walls’ retains the speed – working drummer Marko more than admirably – but thanks to a more jubilant chorus that injects Scandinavian pop melodies into the metal backdrop, manages to sound very different. In keeping with the bulk of this record, the vocal harmonies are pleasingly tight, but if anything sticks out, it’s Nevena’s playing, which isn’t shy in linking the verses with some very old fashioned busy fills – and a solo that might have been worthy of Don Airey, had it been played on an old Hammond as opposed to a squirly sounding synth. Clinging on to a similarly powerful sound – largely thanks to the dominant guitar – ‘Broken Wings’ hits hard with a massive chugger of a riff, over which Ana shares an equally confident vocal. It could’ve ended up sounding like The Big Deal by numbers if not for an impressive pre-chorus that sounds more like it’s destined for a stage musical, but – predictable or not – this track sounds anything but stale. Things are given a boost when Srdjan adds impressive lead work, first dropping a twin lead sound, then sliding effortlessly into some fretboard work that’s incredibly busy, and Nevena follows suit with a keyboard fill that sounds like she has thirteen fingers. In terms of melodic metal, it’s great, but those who hanker after a little more melody should head straight for ‘Don’t Talk About Love’, which leans far further towards a world of classic AOR and adult pop influences on its verses. The gentler approach definitely allows the harmonies to shine a little more brightly bringing a pinch of Roxette to The Big Deal’s sound. The band seem incapable of opting for a full on radio friendly approach, however, and return to heavier sounds on the chorus, with the harder guitars joined by almost prog-like keyboard fills showing off a much pompier edge. The Big Deal manage to showcase most of their finer musical skills on this particular tune which, clocking in at a little over three minutes, manages to be a great exercise in all round tightness. It would’ve been so much easier to flesh this out with a couple of even bigger solos and consider it superior. As it stands, it’s certainly busy, but the actual song-based elements take precedence over everything else.

Released as a single ahead of the album, ‘Fairy of White’ doesn’t really push the musical envelope, but if you’re already sold on the Big Deal sound, it’s another tune that has a lot to recommend it. Taking more of a mid tempo, it introduces a huge sounding guitar, but more importantly, works a more spacious arrangement, allowing for a bigger vocal throughout. During the verses, Ana gets to soar, exploring a classic Euro rock sound, and upon hitting the chorus – injected with more of an AOR love – Nevena’s harmonies sound huge. What’s really key here, though, is that the punchy arrangement is a little less cluttered, and the space allows for more of Nikola’s Mijic’s bass to come through, at least before it gets swept aside by a very busy keyboard solo. In terms of a melodic rock/Euro metal hybrid this is very strong. The big chorus shows why it would’ve been chosen as a digital single, even if there are a couple of better tracks found within ‘Electrified’.

Elsewhere, ‘They Defied’ could easily be a Nightwish offcut, or something from any of the other symphonic bands’ catalogues and sounds a little bit more pedestrian, but that isn’t to say it’s in any way bad, as Ana’s vocals are particularly enjoyable, and ‘Better Than Hell’ visits more melodic territory with a huge rocker driven by an AOR chorus hook, and in a slight change from the norm, Nevena augments the pompier keyboard sounds with some very 80s embellishments. For those who like melodic rock and metal with a slightly bombastic edge – and particularly a couple of the album’s released by The Big Deal’s labelmate Issa – this track will definitely be a standout. It might not be as interesting as a couple of this album’s busier tracks, but in terms of a classic sounding melody, for the melodic rock buff, it’s definitely set to tick a lot of the right boxes.

In closing, ‘Dare To Dream’ opens with a flourish of classically infused piano, suggesting the band are about to bow out with an old fashioned power ballad. It’s merely a ruse: instead, the guitars chime in with some very solid melodic sounds, and The Big Deal work their way through a massive sounding AOR tune loaded with mid tempo riffs and impassioned vocals. More so than their usual fare, this is another track that would suit Issa. That is, until the instrumental break, when Srdjan drops in with a solo full of sweeping notes joined by a couple of aggressive fills and Nevena steps forward with an equally smart musical retort. The showmanship here is very obviously from The Big Deal camp, and for those who’ve spent a fair amount of time with the debut LP, will sound very distinctive. As is often the case, the bombastic elements are balanced with a big melodic hook, and the chorus here really accentuates the band’s love of 80s AOR, and also ensures this album ends with one of its catchier refrains.

When The Big Deal emerged in 2022, they immediately presented themselves as one of the Frontiers Records’ best new bands, and considering the label seemed to be presenting a new European rock and metal act every few weeks at that point, that says a lot about how much better these guys were, right from the off. ‘Electrified’ doesn’t necessarily offer much more than an easy continuation from that debut release – Srdjan and friends very clearly know where their strongest talents lie – but it’s a solid affair all told, and proof that any early faith listeners had in the band certainly wasn’t misplaced. Tried and tested, old school melodic metal this may be, but ‘Electrified’ is definitely a recommended listen.

Buy the CD here.

December 2024/January 2025