Album review: STEFAN BERGGREN – These Are The Times

Grandjam Production [Release date 04.06.21]

Stefan Berggren (Snakes in Paradise, Company of Snakes, Berggren Kerslake Band) is back with his latest solo album, following on from 2016’s ‘Strangers In A Strangeland’. Stefan Berggren (vocals, guitars, keyboards) is joined by fellow Snakes In Paradise band member Tomas Pomma Thorberg (bass) and drummer Johannes Nordell. Guests include the legendary Don Airey and Opeth’s Joakim Svalberg.

Stefan says of the album: “There is always a sense of achievement when it’s finished. I decided already in 2019 that I was going to work on new original material the whole year 2020. So, the pandemic has been good for that. But there’s absolutely nothing to do – no gigs. I believe I had the last gig on earth. My band played the last gig November 23, 2020“. Hopefully he is wrong on that score though.

‘Wild Flowers’ kicks things off with a nice blues vibe and Don Airey guesting. Not a bad way to start an album then! ‘All Or Nothing’ and ‘Burning Burning (Last Band On Earth)’ up the blues rocking ante, featuring powerful blues riffs and singing.

Berggren has a singing style perfect for these sort of guitar driven blues rockers and indeed he is quite possibly singing better than ever. Like some blues singers the voice can get better with age and use. He’s no slouch in the guitar playing department either, mixing riffs with the odd solo to most songs with great effect.

Loving the T.Rex approved riffs on ‘Happy (Shine Your Love Light on Me)’. One of those feel good tunes made for playing loud and annoying the neighbours.

Just when you think you have the album’s style nailed, along comes a lovely piece of folk/country in ‘New York’. Despite its lack of blues heft it fits the album well, as it follows on from the gentler refrains of ‘Lost At Sea’.

Another classy blues rock based album from Stefan, with a few interesting musical twists and turns along the way. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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