a l b u m r e v i e w s


DAMNED NATION
GRAND DESIGN
Z Records
Produced by: Roger Warnqvist
Released: May 2 / Website
Relatives: Whitesnake, Eric Martin
GENRE: Hard Rock
OVERALL: 86%

  1. Stonecold Woman
  2. Hiding From The World
  3. Heart On The Run
  4. Fortuneteller
  5. Desperate Call
  6. Eyes Of A Stranger
  7. Hands Of Time
  8. Going Crazy
  9. Scream Of Anger
  10. Love Reaction
  11. Dance Into Darkness

This is the guys' 3rd album, 2nd for Z Records after their last record Road Of Desire.
On Grand Design, the band, once again led by guitarist Roger Warnqvist and vocalist Thomas Thorsen, are heading further into developing their own sound and doing their best to top their last 2 albums.
Road Of Desire was certainly better than their debut, but when I reviewed it I mentioned that the production is OK, but on the heavier numbers the sound tended to be muddied a little.
There are a few differences now on Grand Design.
Firstly the production and mix is clearly better.
The band is also not trying as hard to be heavy rockers. The last album was quite melodic, but maybe over shadowed a little by guitars and a rhythm section that were too heavy.
On this album, the band is in a more comfortable groove and the songs are more balanced. I think the album has easily got a more melodic edge to it and the band compliment the vocals, rather than try to compete with them.
Thomas is singing great here, bringing more of his pop edge when he sings like Eric Martin of Mr. Big and mixing it with his heavy tones, when he tends to compare with David Coverdale.
And overall the songs here are stronger then the guys last albums. They are getting better with each release, which is what a fan or listener hopes for.
The opening three tracks are all great hook filled upbeat heavy AOR that will go down very well with most.
Fortuneteller is a darker and moodier number that leads well into the first ballad of the album, as that track Desperate Call is also quite moody. The chorus has a great bridge leading into it.
Eyes Of A Stranger and Hands Of Time are tracks where the band try and be heavier than what probably suits them best, but it's works pretty well, no doubt due to the better production.
Going Crazy is a good ballad with some great crunch guitar and solid backing vocals.
Just when you start to think maybe the first half of the album is better than the second, songs like Scream Of Anger and Love Reaction move back towards the more melodic AOR style.
Dance In Darkness ends the album, but lacks a little compared to some of the better tracks of the album.
BOTTOM LINE: The best tracks of the album are certainly the first 5, but overall this is an improvement again on the last album and therefore the guy's best yet. A better production and mix is coupled with better songs and a more melodic style that really suits the band and vocalist Thomas. Any fan of the band is going to be happy with this, as will any fans of European melodic hard rock.
PRODUCTION: 84% SONGS: 86% VIBE: 85%ATTITUDE: 88%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All Damned nation fans, most fans of good quality European melodic rock.
DISCOGRAPHY:Just What The Doctor Ordered . Road Of Desire . Grand Design

b a c k t o i n d e x