Album review: JORN – Over The Horizon Radar

Frontiers Music [Release date 17.06.22]

Jorn Lande has worked with guitarist Tore Moren since The Snakes in 1998.

These two have been in each other’s company for so long that they must by now have developed some kind of musical telepathy.

With Lande and Moren on top form, the rest of the band – Adrian SB, guitars, Nik Mazzucconi, bass, Alessandro Del Vecchio, keyboards, and Francesco Jovino, drums, are running to stand still. The result is an accomplished hard rock album that defies fashion.

Lande is on his 10th solo album now, and each recording adds a new layer, building on the past as the future comes down the road toward us at an alarming rate.

Still, this new album is no post-modern, heavy rock freakout full of sonic improvisation – it still sounds like Lande. He keeps a tight rein on everything, though on on some of the more minor compositions – like ‘In the Dirt’’ and ‘Black Nightshade’ – you may have some doubts. Both have sturdy, steel spined choruses, but in each case the journey through the preceding verse and bridge is not so memorable.

The title track ‘Over The Horizon Radar’ and ‘My Rock’n'Roll’ are stamped out from Snakes’ shaped templates. Arguably ‘One Man War’ belongs in that group, but is differentiated by Lande’s lyrics. Much more Dio’s storytelling than Coverdale’s cliches.

There are times you could perhaps argue – ‘Black Phoenix’ and ‘The Winds of Home’ – that the dynamic of Lande’s vocal is undercut by the propulsion of Moren’s guitar. Closer examination again confirm it’s just a match of outstanding talents, each feeding into the other.

In fact it’s an album that mixes the immediate -’Special Edition’, ‘Believer’ – with, to use an old fashioned term, growers – songs that repay repeated listening. The rerecording of Lande’s failed Eurovision entry ‘Faith Bloody Faith’ to close the album, is the perfect definition. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)