Review | Degreed – The Leftovers – Vol I EP

Frontiers Music Srl.

It’s always a thrill in pressing play on a Degreed release. This new EP, called `The Leftovers – Volume I’, with its title hinting at odds and ends, at songs that didn’t quite fit elsewhere, and a possible follow-up. But if you know Degreed, and you are familiar with their hard hitting and insanely melodic anthems, you know their “leftovers” are likely to be tastier than most bands’ main courses. And let me tell you: this EP is no different.

PURE CLASS

From the opening moments of ,,If It Wasn’t for Me”, you’re greeted by that unmistakable Degreed warmth. The piercing guitar pitch that meanders into the acoustic intro feels like a familiar embrace, but it doesn’t take long before the band’s melodic muscle kicks in. Robin Eriksson’s vocals glide effortlessly, delivering emotion without ever tipping into melodrama. The groove kicks up and the chorus is towering with its nesting melody and intense roar. Hard hitting, memorable, fusing classic melodic rock and pomp with heavy metal drive and thunder. Daniel Johansson’s guitar solo is the kind of moment that makes you want to hit rewind and soak it in again. It’s all pure class, pure feeling.

Degreed has always had a knack for balancing polished melodic antics with a powerful punch, and ,,Good Enough” is proof. The groove laid down by Mats Eriksson and Robin is tight, the chorus is a fist-flying anthem nesting immediately, and there’s an undercurrent of confidence that’s impossible to fake. Heavy drums, broiling low bass lines, and wonderful dynamics. The song fires in all degrees on all cylinders. Degreed knows to delivers with fun.

Speed demon ,,Love Your Enemy” and the ravishing feast ,,Wildchild (Tribute to Alexi Laiho)” reveal the sheer power of the band. Loud drums, sleazy accolades and nesting choruses. As a fan of rock and metal, I appreciate when a band honors a fallen hero like the Children of Bodom guitarist. Degreed does it with style and sincerity, channelling Laiho’s guitar spirit without ever losing their own identity. It’s a highlight, musically and emotionally.

KATE BUSH

The power ballad ,,Hard to Be Human” keeps the energy rolling, packed with hooks and heart. There’s a sense of honesty here, a willingness to lay it on the line. The comfort oozes from it, and it pushes the envelope with its groove and lamenting power. Mikael Blanc’s drizzles his keys atop with keen feel, and he injects the right amount of string arrangements. The bursts of emotion, make it go down as one of the gems in the rock ballad annals Degreed isn’t reinventing the wheel, they’re just making sure it rolls better, smoother, and faster than ever.

By the time ,,GET UP!!” wraps things up, you realize these so-called leftovers are anything but. It packs tremendous power and poise, while kicking forward on sleazy and hair metal licks.

Experimenting with modern and eighties sounds, Degreed recreates the already clinical ,,This is Love” melting it to a ‘synth wave’ version. With its raining keys, synthpop structures, and compressed digital drums, it transcends 80 clinical pop rock with modern touches of rock. Right up Blanc’s alley, this is, tilting over. The track contrasts deeply with the acoustic piano version of ,,Falling Down”, cascading gut wrecking emotion. The middle section shortly rifts deep, with a Kate Bush reminiscent avant-garde touch. Different tone, piercing pitched piano strokes, in the vein of ,,Wuthering Heights”, ground it deeply. The song perfectly flows into the piano opening of the previously unreleased ,,Hear Me Out”. The piano ballad gradually powers up with a subtle drum beat and guitars roaring to the front. The production is crisp and action-packed, far from its ‘leftover’ suggestion. The performances are tight and inspired, the energy radiant, and the songwriting is as sharp as ever.

DEGREED – THE CONCLUSION

I once introduced their sizzling rock potion to a friend selling it like the melodic version of classic Leatherwolf, and today I stand with that. `The Leftovers – Volume I’ is a reminder that Degreed’s B-sides are better than most bands’ A-sides. For the faithful, it’s another reason to keep the faith waiting out a new album. For newcomers, it’s the perfect invitation to join the melodic rock party. Either way, make sure you don’t let this one slip by, because in the world of Degreed, even the leftovers are a feast.

Release date: 18 July 2025