JULY – Raining Sun (2014)

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JULY is a new four-piece act from Stockholm, Sweden, who are releasing their debut album “Raining Sun”.
The band was formed two years ago by experienced musicians from the local scene: singer Mattias Ahlén previously known from the very good Melodic Hard Rock group Token, bass player Fredrik Schönbeck (also ex- Token, Stonesilk), guitarist David Snejken Nordlander (ex- Backdraft) and Anders Jönsson, a drummer with a progressive background (ex- Kornet).

The aim of Ahlén and his bandmates is create a mix of retro classic rock and the now, putting energy and hard work into building a sound of their own.
“Raining Sun” smells late seventies rock (sometimes hard) and the guys are quite good at it specially on the guitar work, as Nordlander has been playing on bluesy hard rock / southern rock bands before. This, together with Ahlén classy, slightly raspy tones, produces harmonious tidal waves of pleasure.
It is a neat, steady collection of songs mostly recorded live in the studio with analog equipment, warmly produced and captured on tape by Scandinavian veterans Patrik Heikinpieti and Johan Gustafsson.

All the songs are well written, arranged and played with passion. For the most part “Raining Sun” is rocking and upbeat, but we have a delicate midtempo in the closer, title track, a song with an eighties feel, and a beautiful ballad on “Second Man”, a highlight.
This is honest, played from the heart classic rock with a real vintage sound but perfectly mixed with today’s standards, and feels authentic, organic, with blood.
Recommended.

01 – You can’t bring me down
02 – We can work it out
03 – Kill my darlings
04 – Second man
05 – Good old times
06 – Stereotype
07 – The big disease
08 – So wrong
09 – Black lighted way
10 – Heaven’s gone
11 – Raining sun

Mattias Ahlén – Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
David Snejken Nordlander – Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals
Anders Jönsson – Drums & Backing Vocals
Fredrik Schönbeck – Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals

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julyband.tictail.com/products
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