GRAND SLAM – A New Dawn (2016)
Hailing from Malmö, Sweden, GRAND SLAM was founded by drummer Andy Swaniz in 2007 with the aim to craft his own interpretation of the Melodic Rock style. After an extensive gig training, one EP (featured on this blog), and being signed by AOR Heaven Records, Grand Slam are presenting “A New Dawn“, the band’s full-length debut album.
Catchy and with more hooks than a mafia-owned meat-locker, this CD stands head and shoulders above the rest in the absolute tsunami of Swedish Melodic Rock / AOR releases around at the moment.
Sporting a couple of mid-80s Vince Neil-type hair / headband get-ups (and neither of them on the two chick back-up singers!), Grand Slam kick-off with a serious pace-setter in album opener “Light Up The Sky”.
The whole CD is like a New Year’s Eve hooley where stripey-panted Scorpions of yore get up and jam with leather-clad, Tempest-led Europeans (see what I did there?), all to great effect.
Wonderfully-named singer Andy Sinner is to lead vocals what the Titanic was to epic movies – lungs like leather airbags and he leads these cracking tunes, front and central.
After a couple of spins of “A New Dawn”, I have to say that this is a great record all the way; melodic hard rock / AOR with attitude filled with strong melodies, excellent harmonies, tasteful guitars and tight performances.
Yes, “A New Dawn” is an album that will please each and every single fan of this particular scene and will rocket Grand Slam to a higher level.
The aforementioned “Light Up The Sky” is the perfect opener to sample Grand Slam’s music. It includes a catchy as hell chorus line and it’s what I call ‘ballsy melodic rock’.
“Face”, the first single, is yet another kickin’ rocker somewhere between H.E.A.T and a ‘lighter’ Eclipse. This track will blow your mind with its irresistible riff.
“One Way To Heaven” is edgier while in “Get High” Grand Slam delivers a superb and punchy modern melodic hard rock hymn.
“Don’t Leave” is perhaps the more classy track recalling Scorpions’ The Zoo in its chunky riffage and thudding verse, “Take Me Higher” is a typical feel-good Scandi-rock stuff and “I Wanna Live” is build up for arenas.
Each song seeks to outdo the last in terms of sheer tonnage – not a single smoochy ballad in sight – just damn good romp and roll.
Grand Slam has had numerous line-up changes since forming in 2007 and I’m hoping they can keep this one together because this debut album rocks like a mofo.
“A New Dawn” hits so hard that even Rocky would have nightmares. Grab yourself a copy and salute the new Swedish champs, Grand Slam.
HIGHLY Recommended.
1. Light up the Sky
2. Rock My World
3. Face
4. One Way to Heaven
5. Don’t Leave
6. Get High
7. Take Me Higher
8. Waiting for Tomorrow
9. I Wanna Live
10. Don’t Mess with Me
Andy Sinner – Lead Vocals
Andreas Gullstrand – Guitar
Andy Swaniz – Drums
Henrik Hansson – Bass
Daniel Gronberg Svensson – Keyboards
BUY IT !
www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/grand-slam-a-new-dawn.html
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