REQUIEM

The sophomore album from JoNo is a huge improvement over the debut album, featuring excellent compositions that are enhanced thanks to the instrumental arrangements that clearly sound more like a team effort.

Unlike the debut album that was in fact a solo record by the band's front man Johan Norrby, Requiem features arrangements and recordings that were clearly made by a band. This makes Norrby's already strong compositions even stronger and gives JoNo the opportunity to deviate from the verse/chorus/verse blueprint that was prominent on the previous record. This means that we actually get a few instrumental interludes, guitar solos and overall a richer musical experience.

My favorite moments are the pompous and melodically rich compositions and there are quite a few of these on Requiem. Some of the best ones are the magnificent guitar-driven opener I Was The One, Nothing which features more of the same greatness plus a nice keyboard solo and the two power pop tracks Best Thing and Dead Or Alive. The rest of the album is a bit more low key, with Letting Go and Love Again being the most obvious links to the band's debut album.

Requiem is definitely a more polished version of JoNo than what we've experienced on their debut record. I really like that this transformation has managed to make their music influences less prominent and thus making their material sound a lot more original. There are still a few moments that remind me of Queen, Supertramp and Muse, but nothing that distracts me from enjoying the compositions that JoNo is presenting me with. This is a great record and a sign of the things to come!

***** star songs: I Was The One (3:49) Nothing (3:59) Best Thing (4:05)

**** star songs: Judgement Day (5:20) Letting Go (6:00) Symphony (4:01) Requiem (6:11) Dead Or Alive (3:48) Love Again (4:16)