GROW

Swedish band THREE SEASONS was formed back in 2009, and through 6 years and three albums they have managed to work their way to becoming quite the popular band in a relatively short amount of time. "Grow" is their third studio album, and was released in the late spring of 2014 through Swedish label Transubstans Records.

Those familiar with this band from previous occasions, or those familiar with their label, will have a pretty good idea about what to expect from this production. The band's label are known for signing bands exploring a more vintage oriented kind of rock, and Three Seasons hasn't been an exception in that department. This is a band with a deep affection for the rock and hard rock of the 1970's, and they document their talents quite nicely indeed also on this occasion.

A few details do set Three Seasons a bit apart from many other bands of a similar kind, at least on this specific album. That their songs tends to revolve around a higher degree of light tones, creating a more positive and at times even jubilant mood and atmosphere is one such aspect. That the songs have a strong orientation towards blues isn't perhaps all that surprising I guess, nor that they have a lead vocalist with a powerful voice well suited to a blues based variety of rock music, and that the driving, dominant elements are guitar and organ combinations is probably expected as well.

But whereas many other bands exploring this particular brand of vintage rock appears to orient themselves after Deep Purple or Uriah Heep, Three Seasons opts for a sound that, at least to my ears, appears to be much closer to a band like Procol Harum. They do arguably borrow some of the harder edged Deep Purple approaches at times, and the organ movements may well have more of a Uriah Heep flavor at times, but the manner in which the instruments are combined and the specific deliveries and tones used results in a sound that for me comes much closer to the kind of material I associate with Procol Harum. An additional aspect of this specific CD is a general sound, mix and production that emphasize the vintage mood of the songs, and the delightful rich but brittle electric guitar used merits a special mention in that department.

While "Grow" may not be an album that will suit everyone, they have managed to create a compelling album with a compelling sound, and that it hit the lofty heights of the top 20 album charts in Sweden upon it's release probably indicates that this is a CD that will have a broad appeal, and one that goes outside of the regular vintage hard rock and progressive rock oriented audience. Fans of vintage rock and hard rock is a proposed key audience for me, and those who have albums by Procol Harum, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep lined up in their music collection the ones most likely to treasure this one the most.