By Monk
When one thinks of melodic rock, it is not hard for your musical compass to magnetize itself towards the Scandinavian peninsula, and Sweden in particular. After all, the Scandi-nations seem to produce more melodic rock acts, often of unerringly (and unnervingly, especially for the competition) great quality, per head of population than virtually anywhere else in the known Überverse. The latest act to add their name to the ever-growing list of such quality acts are Dreams Of Avalon – a band whose name may be new to most people, but one who come with an impeccable pedigree, as the project is the brainchild of one Joachim Nordlund, perhaps best known as the guitarist with ÜR-approved power metal crüe Astral Doors.
Nordlund is not the first member of these particular Doors to take rare moments of time out from his main band to pursue other projects: vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson produced a rather impressive solo album earlier this year, while drummer Johan Lindstedt also has earned our seal of approval with his Freaks And Clowns sideline. Having previously ventured into the ‘80s AOR/melodic arena with the (apparently) now defunct, and highly under-rated, SunStrike, Nordlund returns to extrapolate his lifelong love of both that era and sound with this fantastically impressive contribution to the genre.
The guitarist pulls no punches in his evocation of his love for the music he is reproducing here, while at the same time revealing that, not only is he a damn fine guitarist but a pretty decent vocalist to boot: his “full time” frontman better watch out, as Nordlund has a highly impressive voice, which perfectly suits the particular sub-genre he seeks to explore on this release. It’s something he displays right at the top, with lead off track ‘Young Wild Hearts’, which is catchier than the beer bug and sits comfortably along side anything fellow Scandi-rockers such as H.E.A.T, Crazy Lixx et al have produced.
He keeps up the glorious, fist-pumping, high-volume singalong tempo in fine style with the surprisingly flag-waving ‘Under The Gun’, another of those tracks which would be more than capable of turning the dancefloor at the late, much-lamented Rockingham festival and its counterparts into a seething cesspit of breast-heaving madness. This album definitely is a ‘Shining Light’ in the melodic rock/AOR revivalist genre that has been making such a comeback in recent years: but, whereas so many acts make it all sound twee and cheesier than a cheddar factory, Nordlund (abetted by drummer Sven Danielsson, drummer ‘Mohican Joe’ Roberg and backing singers The Norton Brothers) make it sound as exciting as it is effortless in the excellence of its execution (sic).
‘Beyond The Dream’ is a hugely impressive offering. It is accomplished in every department, polished yet emotional in its impact, conveying the love its progenitor has for the music and the sound so close to his heart with clarity and belief, the latter quality translating easily to the listener to produce a hugely enjoyable experience.
- ‘Beyond The Dream’ is released on Friday (28 August).
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