Review | Andy And The Rockets – Casino

Delapop

After years of relentless touring, Andy and The Rockets hit the reset button in 2024 with one clear goal: to create their most dynamic and fully realized album to date. The result is this brand-new album `Casino’, which is a bold leap forward, brimming with energy, emotion, and the band’s unmistakable melodic DNA. Recorded under a ‘live’-moment-like philosophy, `Casino’ thrives on raw presence that is balanced with melodic perfection, proving once again that true rock ’n roll lives in the performance, not the polish.

Working intensely on new material, broadening their melodic scope and pushing themselves creatively. Longtime bassist and main songwriter Filip Westgärds opened the process up for collaboration, inviting contributions from Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse), Anton Ekström, Andreas Nyström, and Niklas Myrbäck. The result is a collection of songs that sound alive and sees every riff and chorus burst with vitality.

SLEAZY SWAGGER

Produced by Mårtensson and mastered by Björn Engelmann at Cutting Room Studios, `Casino’ delivers a finely tuned balance between grit and melody. Cranked-up analogue amps and the refusal to rely on edits give the album a live-wire energy exploding from your speakers. As they put it: “This record feels alive, more played, more present. Everyone steps up, not just to support, but to lead”.

From the opening of ,,I’m Alive”, the album hits hard with a foot-stomping beat, pulsing bass, and a chorus that demands fists in the air. It’s a no-holds-barred statement of intent, channelling the spirit of Hardcore Superstar while maintaining that distinctive Rockets flair. The same high-voltage energy runs through ,,Your Touch Is Too Much” and ,,Wild Ones” — songs bursting with sleazy swagger, melodic hooks, and choruses designed for live singalongs. There’s grit and grease in the guitars, but melody rules supreme, tying every song together under that unmistakable Scandinavian melodic rock edge. A rockabilly edge reverts occasionally while the gritty accolades from roots-rock are equally present amid the towering melodies. The bass pulses relentlessly adding to the brooding poise and power of the tracks.

MELODIC RICHNESS

As the album progresses, `Casino’ opens up emotionally without losing its punch. ,,I’ll Die If You’re Done”, co-written with Anton Ekström, stands tall as one of its defining moments. It is a stadium-ready anthem balancing vulnerability and power, with a chorus that feels both intimate and colossal. It has hit written all over it! Similarly, ,,Seven Years of Bleeding” and ,,Creatures in the Dark” carry that melodic richness into deeper territory, where heartfelt vocals and layered instrumentation evoke the spirit of arena rock’s golden age.

There’s also a cinematic thread running through ‘Casino’, with ,,The Other Side” and ,,Ride or Die” evoking long desert roads and neon-drenched nights. The guitars sometimes flirt with Western-tinged melodics, the drums pound with dusty conviction, and Andy’s vocals take on a grittier edge, somewhere between swagger and soul. And when the band steps back for a breather on ,,In from the Cold,” they deliver one of their most touching performances: semi-acoustic, melodic, and carried by Andy’s warm, expressive tone.

A TRUE FRONTMAN

Throughout it all, Andreas Forslund stands at the centre like a true frontman. He belts out confident, dynamic, and emotionally connected. His range stretches from raspy power to heartfelt restraint, effortlessly commanding every song. He’s got the swagger of Vince Neil, the sincerity of Bon Jovi, and the melodic instinct to make every chorus soar. Phrasing to empower the lyrics, he injects doses of emotion and swagger, gearing up in his performance.

Closing with ,,Heartbreak City”, the band brings all its strengths into play; gritty guitars, a driving rhythm section, and a towering hook that seals the deal. It’s the kind of closer that makes you want to hit replay and start the ride again.

ANDY AND THE ROCKETS – THE CONCLUSION

With their new deal and their sense of creative fire, Andy And The Rockets are entering a new chapter. `Casino’ captures that momentum as a band rediscovering its essence while pushing its limits. And as they gear up to bring these songs to the stage, the promise feels tangible. “The stage is where it all began, and where it connects the most”. That connection, that spark and that pulse, are what `Casino’ and these melodic rockets are all about. A record that breathes rock ’n roll in every note, built on instinct and played with conviction.

Andy And The Rockets didn’t reinvent themselves, they reignited what was already burning inside.

Release date: 10 October 2025