I have ranted about how modern AOR music has become safe and predictable, how all those bands – especially Swedish and Scandinavian bands – sounds the same. Song structure, arrangements and production. That’s why Swedish melodic rockers Perfect Plan’s debut album All Rise (2018) was such a wonderful surprise. Here was a band that, without being revolutionary, brought us a damn strong record in the AOR/Melodic Rock genre that sported an identity of its own with songs that weren’t cheesy or syrupy, songs with an edge, some grit and not even remotely as polished as many of the contemporary AOR acts that are out there. Perfect Plan added a good dose of crunchy Hard Rock into their music, something I have been missing a lot lately, while still keeping some of the polished sounds and very strong and catchy hooks.
That we would get a follow-up was a no-brainer but that being said, in this day and age, that’s not a matter of course at all. Still, the debut was a success and both fans and music-media gave it their thumbs up so it would be plain stupid not to go with that. As an appetizer, Perfect Plan released a digital only 4-track mini album of covers by Survivor, Foreigner, Giant and The Storm to show us they were still around, writing and recording for the new record. Back to the new record, to follow a successful record is never an easy task and many are the bands that has failed doing so when the pressure is on so these guys really has a whole lot to live up to this time.
The title-track and second single opens the album and right away it stands clear which band it is that I’m listening to. Perfect Plan’s identity shines through right off the bat on this pumping Hard Rock meets AOR number. The song holds a big, fat , crunchy groove where guitars and keyboards goes hand in hand like the best of friends. The song holds a one and a half minute long intro but thanks a lot for making the intro a part of the song instead of making it a track of it’s own, like every one else does these days. That brings a bigger dynamic to the song and also paves way for the big guitars and stompy rhythm when the song gets going. The chorus is hooky, catchy and grabs a hold instantly without adding any sugar or cheese at all. I’m floored right away. This is brilliant.
The fact that leading single “Better Walk Alone”, pre-released to the album, wasn’t all over rock radio is a mystery – and quite sad. This upbeat, punchy Melodic Rock groover should have been a hit, you see. On a kicking rhythm, massive Hard Rock based riffs and an AOR laden refrain, so catchy it hurts, on muscular 70’s based Classic Rock, the song goes right for the throat. Think Foreigner and Survivor digging deep into the their record collections, going on a 70’s frenzy with their re-discovered Rainbow, Deep Purple and old Whitesnake records and you’re close. Brilliant. “Heart To Stone” takes a dive right into the 80’s and comes up with chunky guitar riffs, huge keyboards on a punchy, straight ahead rhythm on a stompy beat. The song’s main melody is smooth albeit never syrupy and the chorus is yet another stupendous one. Damn, this is good.
If the big ballad “Fighting To Win” had been released in 1988, these guys would be living in Beverly Hills in their mansions right now. This one brings on a smooth piano, some obsequious synth-strings and when the rest of the band joins in, the tune goes super-gloss power ballad on us, Survivor style. Fact is, Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan would have sold their mothers to write a ballad like this today. It would have fitted like a charm on When Seconds Count. Plagiarism? Hell no. They wear their influences on their sleeves here but this is Perfect Plan all the way. The chorus is effusively massive and hits bulle-eye so hard my knees get weak. I’m a sucker for a killer power ballad and this is superb.
“Every Time We Cry” opens as a ballad but goes into of a faster paced tempo really fast. It’s big on keyboards, 80’s poppy rock-grooves and AOR-ish melody-hooks are all over the place, it’s smooth and silky but never mawkish or saccharine and every little trace of melody sticks like super-glue. It’s obvious that the mid 80’s is the template for this little pearl but it never sounds even a little bit dated. Great stuff. Like the bastard son of Survivor and Journey, “What About Love” wraps its pink n’ fluffy soundscape around you, gushing those pop-arrangements all over you but also adding some crispy guitars to rock things up a bit – and it marries brilliantly. The refrain is unescapable, effective and catchy as can be. A great song that should be another single.
My first thought when I saw the “Nobody’s Fool” title was if it might be a cover of the old Cinderella hit-ballad. It’s not. This track kicks of with an edgy and bluesy guitar and it continues in the vein of a melodic blues-rocker, groovy as damn with a meaty and steady rhythm. Add to the mix some Melodic Rock vocal-melodies, catchy hooks, a and a gritty guitar solo and we have a dynamic winner. And let’s not forget the use of an organ instead of the usual AOR-keyboards and we have a stand-out edgy and organic rocker on our hands. Very good. “Living On The Run” brings along some more laid-back verses which reminds some of FM but as the pre-chorus comes up for air, the tune gets more upbeat and heavy with a darker ambience surrounding it. We’re also treated with crispy and crunchy guitars, a big keyboard sound and an in-your-face chorus that hits like a punch in the jugular. To add to the dynamics, a heavy and Hard Rock laden passage comes in when it’s time for the striking guitar solo. Great stuff.
“Just One Wish” is softer, more laid-back and quite slick – a total 80’s AOR goes pop-rock tune with smooth melodies, shitloads of hooks and a refrain that is insanely catchy. Again, back in the day a song like this could have made these guys huge stars but it could easily work just as well today, so make it a single because this is a full-blown hit, in my book. A little more standard, “Don’t Blame It On Love Again” comes across as not as personal sounding as the rest of the bunch and therefore turns a bit too mainstream. Full of glossy and silky keyboards, a not so prominent guitar and a middle-of-the-road yet damn catchy chorus, the song has adopted the big Scandinavian template of AOR. It’s the album’s first dip but that being said, it’s actually a pretty good dip as the tune isn’t bad at all.
If Mr Big, Treat and Europe had collaborated back in 1991, the chance is that they would have sounded somewhere along the lines of “Give A Little Lovin'”. It’s an AOR stomper for sure but with more grit on a crunchier and rougher note. It’s very big on striking and glistening melodies but it also sports a bluesier Hard Rock feel and a robust groove. Without being all that radio-friendly, the smouldering chorus attacks with a huge dose of catchiness. Killer! The album closes with the big power ballad “Don’t Leave Me Here Alone” which welcomes us back to 1990. Slow and dark with an emotional and saddening vibe, it holds some beautiful acoustic guitars and smooth keyboards but that said, it’s also crafty, powerful and soulful – and the chorus is massive without being the least sugary or mawkish. I usually don’t like when albums close with ballads but this works like a charm.
Without plagiarizing their debut, it’s still easy to hear similarities to said record, style-wise – as I said, the band has their identity and sound – so if you dug that record you’ll dig this one as well. This time, though, the band has heavied up their sound a bit here and there, making the Hard Rock influences more prominent, something that the record benefits from. As musicians, there’s nothing to complain about at all and in Kent Hilli they have a fantastic singer and the production is faultless as well even though it’s somewhat glossy at times. When, it comes to the song-quality, the 9/10 is extremely close and if I have to compare their two albums, this album is the better one – even though it’s by photo finish. After the brilliant debut, this album is the big proof – Perfect Plan is not only one the best Swedish AOR/Melodic Rock bands today, they’re one of the best period. What will the future hold for this band is anyone’s guess but they deserve to become huge.
8/10
More Perfect Plan reviews:
Tracklist:
1. Time For A Miracle
2. Better Walk Alone
3. Heart To Stone
4. Fighting To Win
5. Every Time We Cry
6. What About Love
7. Nobody’s Fool
8. Living On The Run
9. Just One Wish
10. Don’t Blame It On Love Again
11. Give A Little Lovin’
12. Don’t Leave Me Here Alone
CD & Festival reviews 