AOR Heaven [Release Date 26.03.21]

The thriving Scandinavian melodic rock scene is not just one for young bucks. Winding Road are a new band in which three musicians with a long list of credits in their native Sweden have come together to play in their preferred style, though, judging from some of the names of previous bands in the press blurb, they may be following the Night Flight Orchestra in coming from a heavier background.

‘It’s a Matter of Survival’ is a quietly impressive start, with Jonas Tyskhagen’s clear vocals and, though the song structure is very melodic, the lead guitar of Magnus Akerlund is prominent. However after starting promisingly with some stabbing keys ‘Summertime’, which goes for the same Survivor-influenced territory as contemporaries Perfect Plan, becomes a missed opportunity, being rather predictable with a flat chorus.

Both the keyboardsy ‘Stranger in the Night ‘and ‘Call On Me’ have good choruses and the latter is prevented from slipping too far into an overly lightweight West Coast sound by some excellent guitar solos. This is a recurring theme and indeed the piano-led ballad ‘I Lost You’ is lifted by another fine solo, not to mention some parping keyboards!

The sound is traditional, even dated with no attempt to emulate the more modern sounds of the Scandinavian contemporaries cited in the press release but, while low budget, Magnus’ production is refreshingly clear with the instruments clearly separated.

However the likes of ‘Out of Control’, another laid back ballad in ‘Take Me As I Am’, ‘On my Own Again’ and ‘Shooting Star’ are innocuous and bland, verging on lacklustre.

Indeed by the three quarter mark the album looks to be petering out into anti-climax until out of the blue comes the best by far in ‘Gotta Get Close to You’. A most enjoyable if predictable rocker in the mould of Joe Lynn Turner-era Rainbow, it is enlivened by a fun synth solo which borrows the melody of the mid-song section in Iron Maiden’s ‘Revelations’, then a guitar solo calling to mind John Norum in his most Schenker-influenced phase in the original Europe.

It is part of a strong closing trio with the lush sounds of ‘Before It All Falls Down’ the pick of the three ballads and ‘We Can Run Away’ having the anthemic eighties quality of Survivor or Stan Bush.

Indeed the band name could almost be an apt metaphor for an uneven album that is pleasant but at times meanders rather too gently before a rewarding end destination. *** 3/4

Review by Andy Nathan

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