Album review: KINDRED NORTH – Kindred North

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 21.08.26]

Although melodic rock & AOR is my first musical love (along with folk music), recent albums in this genre have not made much impression Pride of Lions, Acacia Avenue and Creye come to mind. It takes something with a catchy tune or two to tweak this fan’s interest. Luckily Kindred North are one such band.

This is Kindred North’s debut alum and it was formed by Swedish vocalist/guitarist Andi Kravljaca (Seventh Wonder, Find Me) and Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Andreas Nergård.

‘Natural High’ is one of those classy melodic hard rock tunes that Scandinavian musicians seem to produce almost at will. Even a midtempo tune like ‘Billion Miles Away’ has plenty of guitar and keys to get the feet tapping away. For two musicians they don’t half create a massive wall of sound.

A ballad like ‘Learn To Live Again’ is the sort of song Pride of Lions used to do so well. Plenty of vocal emotion and a tasty keys & guitar riff.

Closing the album with another ballad, ‘It’s Hard To Say Goodbye’, Kindred North show what a top quality due they are. The sort of song Europe used to do so well until they fell into a well of blandness.

Kindred North have made one of 2026′s more enjoyable melodic rock albums and perhaps more importantly, one the listener can see themselves still playing in the months and years to come. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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VELVETEEN QUEEN Too Far Gone (Silver Lining Music)
SESAME GIRL Prettiest Girl In The World (indie)

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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