This will be a shorter review than what it should have been had I reviewed this album when it was originally released. But…it’s never too late to discover or to be reminded of great music and this IS great music!
This all-star Swedish band is fronted by former Wig Wam vocalist Age Sten Nilsen along with Erik Martensson on guitars and production plus his Eclipse band mate Robban Bäck on drums.
Hal Patino rounds out the group on bass plus Lasse Finbråthen from Wig Wam on keyboards.
Let’s not beat around the bush – if you own Eclipse, you need this. If you own any Wig Wam album, you need this. If you own anything by Erik Martensson, you need this.
This is big budget, big sounding, big melodic hard rock with guitars, keyboards and hooks everywhere you look.
Age puts a very positive step forward for his first release outside Wig Wam; in fact, he comes close to releasing the best thing he’s ever done and a long way clear of the last couple of Wig Wam albums.
Highlights are plentiful – the stomping hard driving Silverback; the anthemic glory of Give Me A Sign; the mid-tempo harmony filled Shanghaied; the swagger and attitude of the rocking Tie Me Down; and then there’s the entry for song of the year Wild Card. What a blazing anthemic slice of AOR heaven!
The big bluesy ballad Heart’s Not In It is another highlight and Strung Out closes the album with an energetic blast.
The bonus track for some territories is the anthemic Sucker For Anything – essential if you can find it – it’s one of the album’s best tracks!
If you didn’t already pick up on it – this album is BIG. It’s a big, loud, anthemic, dirty and melodic rock n roll record with a touch of AOR/melodic rock/hard rock and glam.
It’s Swedish, it’s good. You need this.
