Frontiers [Release date 16.07.21]
Here’s a genuine contender. Rian, a Swedish melodic rock band formed by singer/writer, Richard Andermyer. On their second album now, and first for Frontiers. It’s produced by the hugely talented musician, Daniel Flores. He gives the band’s music a three dimensional depth and plenty of oomph.
The songs are formulaic only in the sense that most verses accelerate gradually toward a climactic punchline. Yes, you can hear echoes of Work Of Art, Gotthard and other bands from the blood pumping opening of ‘Stop’. And yes, you can hear US AOR influences breaking through from time to time. But the effect is not so much musical impersonation, but rather something more immersive.
You could define it perhaps as a lifelong lived-in experience, turned into 21st century songwriting. So, naturally from time to time you hear stuff that seems to have been suspended in aspic since the eighties.
‘In The Dark’ and ‘Where Do We Run’, full of classy, clamouring melodic rock, illuminated by sunbursts of keyboards and guitar (thanks to Tobias Jakobsson’s finely measured mix of the elegant and the robust), put the band on the same level as Champions League outfits like Brother Firetribe and Eclipse.
And looking across the Atlantic, ‘For Your Heart’ and ‘Body And Soul’ give you the sense that they have been carefully, lovingly constructed from pieces left on the cutting room floor by Harem Scarem and Blue Tears.
So there’s something instantly familiar and yet remarkably fresh about Rian’s material, and there’s a sonic warmth to the many songs – like ‘You Belong’ and ‘Your Beauty’ – that arrive unencumbered by a need to sound relevant, relying solely on supple melodies, taut guitars and meaty rhythms.
This band will go far. ****1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
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 15 December 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 17 December 2024 and is Part 1 of Pete’s best of the year
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 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
