Pride and Joy Music (Release Date 21.03.25)

Its nearly five years since Alien’s last album, ‘Into The Future’, an attempt at a heavier sound that was a major disappointment – reviewing for GRTR! my verdict was ‘the experiment with a shift in direction has to be considered a failure…’

So, can a band whose self-titled 1988 album was one of the early classics of Swedish AOR, and whose appearance at Firefest in 2011 gave many goosebumps, bounce back?

The signs are not encouraging on opener ‘In The End We Fall’, continuing in the mould of its predecessor with a Euro symphonic metal vibe complete with double kick drums and Tony Berg’s neo-classical guitar flourishes. However it seems totally unsuited to Jim Jidhed’s Perry-like high vocals, which sound rather thin and weedy against the musical backing.

‘If Love Is War’ is in more flattering AOR territory, with similarities both lyrically and in the hook to Michael Bolton’s ‘How Can We Be Lovers’, concluded with some great harmonies. It is much more like it, even if the production is somewhat muddy. Likewise ‘Strange Way’ is classic AOR with a slow verse giving way to a good chorus that perfectly fits Jim’s voice. In between ‘Aiming High’ has a chorus that takes a little while to appreciate but has the feel of the Joe Lynn Turner Rainbow years.

Unfortunately, ‘We Are Living’ is rather bland and ‘I Belong To The Rain’, with a Rainbow-esque intro and Tony let off the leash with his soloing, doesn’t suit the thinness of Jim’s voice. I found myself again and again drawn to bemoaning the production- this is at its worst on ‘I Remember’, a blatant effort to emulate Journey as the piano intro then rocks out into a chorus, is spoiled by the awful execution, messy and drowned in backing vocals.

The Journey influences are also clear on ‘Fall In My Arms’ with a great melodic guitar sound and ‘Coming Home’, while ‘Hearts On Fire’ has one of the best AOR choruses on the album. However surely the equally disappointing production of the legends’ last ‘Freedom’ album was not seen as an inspiration?

There are a couple of songs where the increasing weariness in Jim’s voice actually gives the songs an endearing character, similar to latter day Magnum with Bob Catley, in ‘Signs’ where there is also a nice guitar and Hammond organ battle, and the title track which effectively closes the album, prior to a short instrumental.

It’s an improvement and a shift back to their classic style for sure. But despite some promising songs the disappointing execution means its an album I can’t see myself returning to, in the manner of that debut all those years ago. ***

Review by Andy Nathan

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