Album review : GRAND – Guilty Pleasure

Frontiers [Release date : 21.08.26]

We asked 3 separate AI sources… Gemini, Co pilot and Claude:

“describe the melodic rock / AOR music of the eighties, specifically 1984”.
We’ll publish the results sometime.

Then we took this new release from Grand, Guilty Pleasures, and said “Scratch the paint and reveal the date” Answer: 1984.

We’re not inferring that Guilty Pleasure is AI generated. The opposite in fact. What we’re hearing is a band standing firm in a genre that peaked decades ago, holding on tight to the sound that shaped them.

Founding members Mattias Olofsson (vocals) and Jakob Svensson (guitars) are nowadays joined by Maja Thoren (keys), Johannes Arvidsson (bass) and Axel Nilsson (drums). They combine well.

Their sound is maybe just a bit too saccharine, but they’re clearly a talented bunch, with all the instruments and songwriting elements smartly woven together in the construction of a quality Melodic Rock album.

Where other AOR bands become trapped in the aspic of past glories, Grand have tuned us into the sounds of 1984, then got under the bonnet, tinkered a bit, and boosted the output. It’s brighter, more colourful.

More than that, they’ve done a persuasive job of matching substance with style. Often the hardest part of the equation.

The moody, expressive ‘Wild Heart’ and ‘Still So Beautiful’ pushed along by lush, swirling keyboards, are the songs they do best, reflecting the same kind of consummate pop-rock craftsmanship that John Waite and Billy Squier have been showing off all these years.

‘Guilty Pleasure’ and ‘I’m Ready’ come charged with a kinetic, sit up and take notice kind of energy. In their driving synth basslines, and bright, beefed up AOR guitars and keys we hear echoes of Work Of Art lite, and Mikael Erlandsson’s appealing rock songs. Good company.

Elsewhere (there’s always an “elsewhere”), ‘Party Galore’ could turn into a fun, dance floor favourite, and ‘Cold Hearted’, neatly layered with analog warmth, adds a welcome bite. ***

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 3 August 2026

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Wonderland (Cherry Red)
KING FALCON Hourglass (indie)
SHAKRA Wasteland Warriors (Frontiers)
JAMES KENNEDY & THE UNDERDOGS – Revolution (Konic Records)
BLACKLIST UNION Madame Butterfly (BLU Records)
DIAMOND RAIN I Need Love (Pride & Joy Music)

Featured Albums w/c 3 August 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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