Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22]
Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers.
Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the road ahead, but they steal frequent looks into AOR’s rear view mirror.
They’ve audibly spent the time since the debut honing their songwriting skills to a razorlike sharpness. Systematically shaping their style into one that makes the New Wave of Scandi Melodic Rock a thrilling sensory experience.
Superb opener, ‘Into The Fire’ is more passion than pastiche. Their songs’ dynamics are more assured now, showing us a band with a firm grasp of the essentials and an eye for the finer points, spinning a web of melody into concise, punchy AOR.
It’s the leading edge of an album that brings us a new set of songs that put them up there with Bro Firetribe (Higher), Leverage (Feed The Lie), and Wigelius (Turn Back).
That said, the Queen-like ‘Radio’ is head and shoulders above everything else here. The production and arrangement are powerful and full on, slowly transitioning the song from thumping rock to a cross generational middle section … an emotional surge of instrumental music that blends rock with film score sophistication.
And still, the headlining hooks just keep on coming.
‘Burning’ and ‘Falling Down’ show us amazingly athletic changes of pace. Both going from zero to hero in a heartbeat, delivering two swaggeringly confident choruses that recall Harem Scarem’s best moments.
It’s no exaggeration to say this is a truly absorbing, entertaining melodic rock album. One that could easily be a gateway drug to the AOR of the eighties. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
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 2 March 2025.
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 on 4 March 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025
HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
