Confession time. I was one of the few that didn’t go through the roof when Erik Grönwall participated in Idol in 2009. He was good, sure, but I thought it sounded too karaoke for me. When I watch the clips from Idol today, I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe it was just my anti Idol thoughts that took over because Erik was, of course, brilliant. I wasn’t a huge fan of the two first H.E.A.T albums either so when Erik replaced Kenny Leckremo it was somewhat a shrug of the shoulder for me. A bit meh. Then I heard Erik’s debut with the band – Address The Nation (2012) – and was floored right off the bat. Since then I have been a massive fan of both H.E.A.T and Erik and I consider the four albums they made together work of brilliance. H.E.A.T is also one helluva live act and Erik is a world-class frontman – one of the best out there.
When Erik revealed that he was leaving H.E.A.T, I was deeply saddened. For me, Erik was an initial part of the band and it felt like the most important piece of the band was gone. Then he announced that he was leaving the music business to pursuit other things. WTF!! Then came leukemia. More WTF!!! Fortunately, Erik beat the disease and decided to go back into music and the first signs of life after H.E.A.T is New Horizon, a Power Metal project Erik has with his former band-mate Jona Tee (keyboards, guitars, bass) where the couple unleashing their inner Metal dreams. Now I’m not a fan of Power Metal so my first thought was: Is this what Erik will do now? WTF!!! Now, as a big fan of Erik and knowing of Tee’s song writing skills, I was still intrigued with this album. Drum duties was held by Robban Bäck (Mustasch) and with guests like guitarists Love Magnusson (Dynazty) and Dave Dalone (H.E.A.T.), how bad could this actually be?
After the slow, soft and low-key intro “A New Horizon”, the album breaks loose with the fast and heavy “We Unite”, a real belter with some classic Metal riffage and a hard-edged rhythm – very punchy and in-your-face. Still, it’s very melodic – it can’t be any other way with these guys involved – and the chorus sticks right off the bat. But… isn’t the chorus a bit too similar too “What A Feeling” from the Flashdance soundtrack? Power Metal? Sure, but I quite like this one anyway. First single “Stronger Than Steel” is upbeat, heavy and riffy with a headbang-friendly beat. It’s more classic Metal than Power dito but again very melodic with a direct hook in the chorus. Fact is, this one comes across as Metal version of H.E.A.T. What’s not to love about that? Killer tune.
Keeping up the faster pace, “Cry For Freedom” comes on strong and ballsy with a muscular outlook. Sharp riffage, crunchy guitars blends fine with smoother melodies and again, the guys’ H.E.A.T past shines through but I can also sense a Helloween influence. Where the more Melodic Rock laden arrangements comes up for air, the song is great but when it gets too Power Metal, it’s gets a bit overmuch for me. “Call Of The Underground” starts out a bit low-key and down-beat with some Celtic touches in the vocal melodies. The verse is fast and rowdy on a punchy beat but the chorus slows things down where the folky, Celtic influences returns. I think of both Dare and Gary Moore. Said chorus is a real hook-fest and catches on right from go. Awesome.
Opening with an 80’s sounding keyboard, “Stardust” continues into a symphonic Power Metal gut-punch where the fast rhythms contrasts fine with the AOR-ish vocal-melodies. While this track runs amok at times there’s also enough melodies to please H.E.A.T fans. The chorus is catchy enough and it’s an ok tune, it’s just a bit too Power Metal for my taste. The single “Event Horizon” is a heavy and powerful metal-stomper. The verses takes on a bigger classic Hard Rock vibe and a driving riff. Come the chorus, the song takes a more direct, in-your-face vibe with a stellar vocal-melody and hooks enough to sell – catchy as catchy gets. Awesome!
“The End Of It All” is a mid-tempo stomper, heavier with a darker riffage but with an intense main-melody. A Celtic touch is also added which gives the tune a slight Gary Moore touch and it also brings Nightwish’s Celtic moments to mind. The chorus, however, is more upbeat and a faster crunch with a Power Metal edge to it. It’s catchy enough for me to give my thumbs up. “Fearless”, on the other hand, blasts away on a fast track, kicking and screaming with some aggressive riffing and a ballsy and attacking rhythm. Still, it’s a full-on Power Metal number which in turn leaves it outside my wheelhouse. It’s a bit Iron Maiden influenced and Erik nails it vocally but to me, this is quite forgettable.
Last but not least is the album’s titular track. It starts out slower, dark and heavy with an oriental twist – a bit down-beat yet big in sound. This epic, 7+ minute number then speeds up some and takes a more 70’s Rainbow path – very crunchy and powerful. A more Power Metal influenced passage comes in, faster in tempo and more in-your face and makes for a contrast that gives the song a more dynamic edge. It’s a grandiose and ambitious tune that changes structure but also holds memorable melodies all over and a damn catchy refrain on top. A very good song and one of the finest moments on this record.
On a positive note, despite not being into Power Metal, I found this record way better than I had thought it would be. Many of the songs hold influences and inputs of other branches of the Hard Rock tree such as classic Metal, Hard Rock, AOR and Melodic Rock which makes the album a more interesting listen. Also, most of the songs are really good with flawless musical performances and a stellar deliverance from Erik Grönwall. The negatives I find here that it’s still too much Power Metal for my taste. But what I dig most here is to hear that Erik’s back just as powerful and with a voice just as awesome as ever.
6/10
Tracklist:
1. A New Horizon (Intro)
2. We Unite
3. Stronger Than Steel
4. Cry For Freedom
5. Call Of The Underground
6. Stardust
7. Event Horizon
8. The End Of All
9. Fearless
10. Gate Of The Gods
CD & Festival reviews 