Blog Post

The Gems - 'Phoenix' Released 26th January 2024

Review by Iain McArthur • 18 January 2024
The Gems might be a new name but they have familiar faces. Guernica Mancini, Mona Lindgren and Emlee Johansson all played together in Thundermother for several years before their version of the band imploded last year in acrimonious circumstances following Guernica’s sacking. Because of their existing bond and close friendship, the other two ladies walked out too and it has taken them less than a year to build a new brand, write some great songs and hit the ground running with a scorching debut album due out imminently on Napalm Records.

The almost title track ‘Like a Phoenix’ sets the scene. It is a slab of hard, fast, driving rock that seems to tell the band’s story so far and Guernica really sings it like she means it. That’s also true of ‘Send Me to the Wolves’ which starts with an almost rap intro before hitting a swaggering Aerosmithy riff, courtesy of Mona, who seems to have enjoyed picking up the guitar again after playing bass in Thundermother and she gets some great tones out of her instrument.

I don’t think all the scars from the exit from Thundermother have healed yet though, as there is definitely a bit of a bitter edge to tunes like ‘P.S.Y.C.H.O.’ (especially the video) and ‘Kiss it Goodbye’, the latter of which also has a Van Halen groove going on. I guess they have got to get it out of their system while still in transition and it does make for great energy and I’m sure these will be excellent live songs when the band get out on the road.


The ladies seem to be enjoying the freedom of calling their own shots. There is still plenty hard rock goodness but they also mix it up with tracks like the bluesy ‘Fruits of my Labour’, on which Guernica’s voice really soars, and there are some complex almost-jazzy arrangements on the high-energy ‘Force of Nature’ where Emlee definitely enjoys herself on the hi-hats.



Officially, there are 16 tracks on the album, including an acoustic version of ‘Like a Phoenix’ that makes that story even clearer. There are also three shorter “interludes” that bridge into some of the main songs, of which the most impressive is ‘Maria’s Song’, played by violinist Maria Jern. It segues into a touching ballad entitled ‘Ease Your Pain’ which features a signature solo from Mona that really hits the spot and showcases what she can do.


It’s an impressive debut from the ladies. They have already got plenty in-band chemistry and they have laid the foundations of a great new brand, not just with the music but also with a distinctive image and logo, a scary-looking Maiden-inspired mascot named Gemma, and a Facebook fan-group entitled ‘Diamonds – The Gems Fan Club’.


There are launch events in Germany and Sweden and hopefully we will see the ladies on tour properly around the world during 2024 to build on their momentum, with UK dates apparently pencilled in for Autumn. Happy days.

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