GLORIOUS COLLISION

A promo offer by Freeman Promotions ensured my first encounter with this band from Sweden. They are active for more than 15 years in the meanwhile with seven studio albums in the back ... but I honestly must say I haven't heard anything from them before. So let's say I'm unbiased in some way. Eventually mastermind Tom Englund had to run a big update because drummer Jonas Ekdahl, Henrik Danhage (guitar) and bass player Jari Kainulainen left the band in May 2010, for what reason ever. So this is a new line-up nearly, if you will.

They issue 13 songs here, when it comes to the limited edition even adding a special bonus track decorated with vocals by Carina, Englund's missis. Although you are faced with a powerful straightforward drum style and Marcus Jidell's slicing guitar riffs all over, this album showcases a bunch of catchy moments. First of all ... Rikard Zander's keyboard work is restrained, accentuated, contrasting while using many delightful piano sequences or symphonic impressions. I especially like his part. And, brought in enthusiastically, Englund's vocals are matching, embellish all the nice melodies.

They get off the starting blocks with Leave It Behind Us and you are faced with a bass drum battle in some way - probably drummer Hannes Van Dahl had a glorious collision, hahahaha. On the other hand the whole thing is really accessible due to the main refrain which is provided with recognition value. You and Wrong, showing some bombast impressions, are in no way inferior to the opener. So I would say this appears really promising right from the start.

The next songs prove that they don't tend to take it with ease. Frozen shows furious drumming and crashing guitars. Restoring the Loss comes as a more tricky exemplar, Out of Reach has the makings of a new hymn. Sometimes this reminds me of bands like Thunder or Magnum - although this is more dashing in the whole. But ... who is searching for 100% pure prog, for odd surprises, for some real innovation won't be completely satisfied.

The songs are taking between 4 and 6 minutes all the way through - provided with compact arrangements and some sing-along as well as headbanging qualities. Surely prolific due to Tom Englund's longtime experience. However, I occasionally can't get rid of the impression that I already came across such melodies at one time or another. 3.5 stars anyhow (yeah .. I like what I hear), overall I consider 'Glorious Collision' a solid melodic prog metal album. It will be available at the end of February 2011.