This is album number three from one of Sweden’s finest exponents of aor/melodic rock and the first to feature Jamie Borger on drums, who later went on to drum with Talisman (one of Sweden’s best ever hard rock bands) and also Jeff Scott Soto. The production is stellar, capturing that big eighties rock sound perfectly.
Soul Survivor opens up the album in fine anthemic style. Big hook and matching monster chorus. That blueprint slides on into You’re The One I Want, but more. Massive hook and a chorus that just gets stuck in your head. Great tune and my favourite! Take Me On Your Wings takes the listener into super slick aor territory, plus big bonus points for a killer melodic solo. Next up is Best Of Me and it’s big ballad time. Side 1 closes out with Dancing On The Edge, a kick ass uptempo rocker. Great riff and man do they know how to write a catchy hook and chorus.
Over to Side 2 and Outlaw. Superb harmony guitars at the intro, although the song reminds me of Pat Benatar. World Of Promises follows and they seem to like the big intro as nearly every song has one. The main verse is a nice little gallop and then it’s big hook and chorus time. I wonder if they go to school for this in Sweden?One Way To Glory has a big keyboard intro that feels a bit like ABBA but that disappears as soon as the band kick in, and yet another infectious sing-a-long anthem. Save Yourself starts with a huge Deep Purple style intro, as does the hook and chorus. The album closes out with The Winner. A big hair, rock, mid tempo anthem with a great riff.
No new ground being broken here, but this is a very classy release.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
