LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Level Eleven [2CD Japanese Ltd. Edition] (2014)

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So here it is: as usual, Swedes LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM releases a new album at the end of each year, first in Japan and a couple months after in Europe. Titled “Level Eleven“, this is indeed the album number 11 from this Melodic Rock combo commanded by singer Mikael Erlandsson.
“Level Eleven” is expected for Feb. 20, 2015 in Europe via AOR Heaven Records, but the Asian market has the holiday present already in stores. “Level Eleven” is available in Japan on a regular version, and this, First Limited Edition including a Bonus Disc.

“Level Eleven” bring some changes for Last Autumn’s Dream: founder member and fantastic guitar player Andy Malecek (from the successful German melodic hard rock band Fair Warning) decided to leave the band in 2014 because of personal reasons and is now replaced by Peter “Pac” Söderström, a skilled guitar player that added rhythm guitars to the band’s previous albums.
So now Last Autumn’s Dream is a band 100% Swedish.

The other different side of “Level Eleven” is the sonic approach.
Last Autumn’s Dream is Melodic Hard Rock, more ‘melodic than hard’, and this has not changed. However, the sound and production has been modernized, resulting in a much more updated product.
This means that Last Autumn’s Dream can compete with the new wave of Melodic Rock like Vega, Diamond Dawn, Eclipse, etc, something the band was needing to remain relevant in the competitive scene.
By the way, if you ask me, “Level Eleven” is the best produced LAD album ever.

The rest is easy: Last Autumn’s Dream never disappoint your melodic ears: blissful numbers like the AOR paradise of “I’ll Be There 4 U” (a favorite), the catchy “Follow Your Heart” or the anthemic “Go Go Go – Get Ready Fo The Show!” (will make HEAT envy) are among the best cuts.

There’s a classic melodic rock mid-tempo in the beauty of “Made Of Stone”, “Star” and the AOR “Stick Around” (classic LAD), and some catchy power pop on “Losing You”.
This “Level Eleven Limited Edition” worth the purchase, as the bonus disc offers terrific acoustic performances – very well arranged & worked, not just ‘let record these on the fly’. I particularly love “To Be With You”.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Avalon / Marquee ~ MICP-11131 エディション

01 – Kiss Me
02 – Follow Your Heart
03 – Fight The World
04 – I’ll Be There 4 U
05 – Losing You
06 – Go Go Go – Get Ready Fo The Show!
07 – Delirious
08 – Made Of Stone
09 – Stick Around
10 – Star
11 – PLZ
12 – Oh Darlin’ (Japanese Bonus Track)
13 – Coda [hidden track]

Limited Edition BONUS DISC:
01 – Another Night (Acoustic Version)
02 – I’ve Fallen Into You (Acoustic Version)
03 – Michelle Don’t Live Here No More (Ac. Version)
04 – To Be With You (Acoustic Version)

Mikael Erlandsson – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Jamie Borger – drums, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Nalley Pahlsson – bass, backing vocals
Peter Pac Soderstrom – guitar

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-90084
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