After two successful albums – Nordic Union (2016) and Second Coming (2018) – it was said that Nordic Union, the project between guitarist and main song writer Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T, Ammunition) and singer Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) was over and done due to the pair’s hectic schedule. Sad news for me as the two albums were superb and the perfect mixture of Eclipse and Pretty Maids, if you will. Fast forward a few years and the project is on again despite Eclipse now being more popular than ever and even though Pretty Maids is on a hiatus, it’s unclear for how long, Atkins has a successful solo career going and also touring with Avantasia. A third album is fantastic news and with two multi-talented musicians like Atkins and Mårtensson, there’s no chance in hell this third effort will be anything but awesome. At least, I bloody hope so.
Opening track “On This Day I Fight” reveals that no worries are needed. It’s a fast burner, heavy, hard and metal-tinged with punchy rhythms and kick-ass melodies. With frantic guitars and a ballsy riff and distinct and direct melodies with sharp hooks, the song comes across as both guys’ day-jobs put in a blender. The chorus might be catchy as hell but no cheese has been inserted at all. A great live-friendly belter indeed. Lead-off single “In Every Waking Hour” is a kicking hard-rocker with a substantial back-bone, quite muscular on a bouncy beat with chuggy guitars and a staccato riff. The melodies has Atkins’ intensity and catchiness all over them and the refrain is nothing short of fabulous. Brilliant stuff.
After a haunting and ominous intro “If I Could Fly” kicks off in a raw and crunchy mode with firey riffage and a rhythm section here to punch you out. It’s a real sonic powerhouse, crafty and robust that’s in your face and on your case with compelling melody-hooks and an electrifying refrain that just can’t be denied. Very good. The title of the next track “Riot” had me thinking another metal-belter was on the way but it’s quite the opposite as what we’re given here is a slow ballad on the darker side with a big dose of melancholy involved. The rhythms are quite on the heavier side but the soundscape is large, the sound is big and the melodies smooth. The chorus is massively catchy but by no means is this sugary – it’s soulful, emotional and honest. Amazing.
The dark, heavy and fat-riffed single “This Means War” comes on with a beefy beat and a steady groove. It’s a mid-paced rocker with a moody vibe but also holds some striking melodies and a sing along friendly refrain that also brings some Celtic inspired guitar-lines. All in all, it sounds like an Eclipse song sung by Atkins. That can only be a good thing – and it is. Splendid. “Scream” is the second song with that title for Atkins as Pretty Maids already has one. It’s an upbeat, uptempo metal-edged yet melodic rocker in the vein of the first two Nordic Union albums. This too is pretty much an Eclipse tune with Ronnie’s voice on top. It’s highly memorable with a distinct chorus melody that sticks from go. Killer.
The album’s titular track “Animalistic” is a real power cruncher as well. Going off with some metal-laced razor-sharp riffing and fist-in-the-gut rhythms, the track will doubtless be a roaring, cracking belter live. It’s ballsy, aggressive and heavy but still with the explosive hooks that bears both guys’ names on them. The chorus is terrific too, a real KO. Killer stuff. The edgy “Wildfire” comes with a big Pretty Maids and a main-riff that’s maybe a bit too close to “Future World” for comfort but the structure changes direction a bit so it’s not really that obvious after all. It’s a gritty rocker with a hard punch but also very melodic and the chorus really hits home. Great.
“Shot In The Dark” is a striking rocker that blends Metal influences and Melodic Rock in the finest of ways. It’s fierce and dirty but still holds melodies that grabs a hold right from go with another Eclipse sounding refrain with a magnetic catchiness right there. Damn good. “Last Man Alive” starts out slow, down-beat and earthy, not a far cry from the Maids’ “Yellow Rain” but continues more as a ballad albeit a heavier take on one. It’s a mid-tempo tune with a slight late Whitesnake touch but both Pretty Maids and Eclipse also shows up for the show. Another contagious refrain comes along so addictive you need rehab to get rid of it. Should be a single. Superb.
Nordic Union closes the album with a real face-melter called “King For A Day”. It’s a direct, crunchy and fuel-injected hard-rocker with some bad-ass Metal riffing and a driven, high-octane rhythm that’s obviously here to give us a good beating. It’s an energetic and electrifying kick-ass Hard Rock meets Metal stomper with some Eclipse-like, Melodic Rock laden vocal-melodies with Atkins’ magnificent raspy voice on top and the chorus is elevating and monstrously catchy. Fan-bloody-tastic!
The fact that Mårtensson and Atkins both are killer song writers is nothing new and therefore it’s hardly shocking that the third Nordic Union record is a brilliant record. But it’s really hard not to be impressed by the fact that they have record three fantastic albums in a row and not one weak song in sight. It’s easy to state that if you’re a fan of the two previous ones you’ll dig this one as well. This album differs slightly from those records as this one’s heavier, harder and more Metal-laden and gritty albeit with the strong melodies intact. Mårtensson and Atkins are really a match made in heaven and surely we all know that Nordic Union is nothing but a side-project but after three splendid efforts, Nordic Union really deserves to become a real band. What I wouldn’t give to catch this live.
9/10
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Tracklist:
1. On This Day I Fight
2. In Every Waking Hour
3. If I Could Fly
4. Riot
5. This Means War
6. Scream
7. Animalistic
8. Wildfire
9. Shot In The Dark
10. Last Man Alive
11. King For A Day
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