Top tracks — play these first
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Burning Bones — The opening track sets an energetic tone with its driving riffs and catchy chorus, encapsulating the album's hard rock ethos.
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Winning Man — This track combines powerful vocals with an infectious melody, showcasing Krokus's knack for creating memorable hooks that resonate within the genre.
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Rock City — With its anthemic quality and powerful instrumentation, Rock City stands out as a celebration of rock culture, uniting listeners under a shared passion for music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Hardware showcases solid hard rock songwriting and energetic performances, though it doesn't fully stand out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Burning Bones', setting a fast pace that continues through the first half.
- Each song features prominent guitar riffs and solos, often accompanied by shouted choruses that invite audience participation.
- The last three tracks slow down slightly in tempo, allowing for a more reflective tone before concluding with 'Celebration'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- high-energy party atmosphere
- sing-along anthems with friends
- steady pacing for road trips
- celebratory vibe throughout tracks
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quiet introspective moments
- prefer long, soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1981, Hardware marked Krokus's fourth studio album and their first with a more defined hard rock sound. Following the success of their previous album, Metal Rendez-vous, this release solidified their presence in the burgeoning heavy metal scene of the early '80s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Accept· Scorpions· Judas Priest
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Burning Bones 3:34
- 2 She’s Got Everything 3:57
- 3 Winning Man 5:33
- 4 Smelly Nelly 3:38
- 5 Easy Rocker 5:27
- 6 Mr. Sixty Nine 3:01
- 7 Rock City 4:43
- 8 Mad Racket 4:00
- 9 Celebration 3:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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