Frontiers [Release date: 14.10.22]
Maybe the title indicates that a move to Frontiers for their third album, Resurrection, is seen by Swedish AOR/Melodic Rock band Wildness as a post pandemic rebirth.
Certainly, the band have made significant strides in terms of recognition and awareness in the last 4 years. They’ve shared stages with Dokken, HEAT, Pretty Maids and many others in that time.
New vocalist Erik Forsberg is something of an upgrade for the band. He has the urgency of tone that can make all the difference in the AOR genre. Drummer/producer/songwriter, Erik Moden is still at the helm.
The first brick in the musician’s wall is compositional skill. We should pick out the highlights.
The catchy ‘Nightmare’ is a pretty decent opener, if maybe a minute too long. Its shiny pop immediacy prepares the ground, providing a sense of anticipation. In other words it sets up the album.
‘Release The Beast’ is a nod to Dokken, musically and lyrically. But it exposes a lack of production oomph, Forsberg’s pumped up vocal deserves a matching production that it doesn’t get.
‘Tragedy’ is an ace AOR song, Its skilful use of melody and harmony freeze frames the music in a colorful snapshot of the eighties.
Elsewhere the album is a mixed bag of delights and disappointments
The Talisman like ‘Love Resurrection’ and ‘Final Fantasy’ seem set to be twisted into something harder and heavier …. there’s a definite Jef Scott Soto sound to both, but they pull back and settle for softer rocking harmonies.
Like the big ballad ‘Lonely Girl’, ‘Best Of Me’s fluttering keys and pacey guitar chime may have worked pre 1989, but fall foul of formula here and drift off out of sight.
It’s a frustrating album, promising so much, but just not delivering enough. ***
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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