Tag: stage dolls

This is album number two from one of Norway’s finest exponents of AOR/ Melodic Rock. You can see why this album did really well in the US, because the whole vibe is tailor made for American FM radio. The production is huge and very clear, all the tricks and gizmo’s have been applied to give the songs that extra everything. There is no way that they could do this live. Well, not without help anyway!

Commandos (the song) is a quality piece of music with a great melody and hook, it was a huge single for the band. Young Hearts is another song that you can imagine playing in your soft top cruising down the Pacific coast highway singing along to the melody. My favourite tune however is Rock You where they mix the rock with the smooth, crank those guitars, and give it the full rock party anthem.

A very good album that sounds great.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

This is this Norwegian band’s third release that came out back in ’88. The album was delayed a year in the US and the single Love Cries did quite well in the Billboard charts, whereas Wings Of Steel did well in Europe. The band occupy that space between pop and rock, a very slick well produced sound that was huge in America about five years earlier and would soon give way to songs with a harder edge.

The first three tracks Still In Love, Wings Of Steel, and Lorraine are superb pop/rock masterpieces. They all have great hooks and have that sing-a-long vibe in the chorus, and they sound huge. Love Cries just feels like you are listening to prime time Journey, well musically any way. My favourite track is Mystery which has a guest appearance from TNT’s Ronnie Le Tekro who lays down some guitar and a perfect solo. A quick mention to Don’t Stop Beleivin’ (no not that one) as it was close for favourite tune. The record company missed a beat here as I would have released this as a single. Its has a super smooth groove with a killer melody, and a hook and chorus to die for.

A great sounding album and if you are anyway in love with that eighties sound, you should own this.

9/10 from The Grooveman.