STONELAKE – Thunder And Rain (2018)
Swedish melodic hard rockers STONELAKE are releasing their new studio album “Thunder And Rain“, their first for MelodicRock Records. Founded by Jan Akesson (S.A.Y., Jan Akesson’s Shadow Rain) the band has grown in all aspects, but essentially, they turned much more Melodic Hard Rock oriented adding keyboards, soaring harmonies and a very polished sound to their music.
Indeed, previous Stonelake style combined modern Euro Hard Rock and classic Melodic Metal, and now, while still retaining a set of high octane guitar riffs and a pounding rhythm section, everything is totally Melodic Hard Rock oriented. The band even changed its logo.
To give you a quick idea, just check below the video-track of opener and title track ‘Thunder and Rain’, some kind of a mix between Yngwie Malmasteen / Joe Lynn Turner circa 1988 and Eighties TNT. Killer stuff.
Follower ‘Hold On To You’ is another winner with its infectious chorus, ‘Dreams’ is a superb ballad with great atmospheres, and the sharp ‘Sent From Heaven’ sounds like lost Axel Rudi Pell track.
‘When There Is Love’ is classy Scandinavian melodic stuff with swirling guitar riffs and powerful vocals – Peter Grundström does an amazing job all over the CD, while ‘Don’t Lose the Faith In Your Heart’ is almost ‘epic melodic hard’, and a very good one.
‘Only Shadows’ adds some acoustics and ‘clean’ electric guitars, a song that reminds me the recent S.A.Y. disc, the band where Åkesson and drummer Jens Westberg were involved.
‘Where Are You Running’ brings a welcomed dose of punchy Scandi AOR (recalling Dalton) with a delicious chorus. ‘You Can’t Do Wrong’ rocks with style (and shades of heavier SHY), while closer ‘Waiting For Tonight’ is an unexpected Jennifer Lopez cover (!) done in a heavy fashion.
StoneLake were already a really good band, now, with their first album in 5 years and a change of style, they are even better. The Melodic Hard Rock groove and melodies suit these guys perfectly, resulting in punchy slab of rockin’ Scandi magic.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Thunder and Rain
02 – Hold On To You
03 – Dreams
04 – Sent From Heaven
05 – When There Is Love
06 – Don’t Lose the Faith In Your Heart
07 – Only Shadows
08 – Where Are You Running
09 – You Can’t Do Wrong
10 – Red Sun
11 – Waiting For Tonight (Jennifer Lopez cover)
Peter Grundström – Vocals (Kee Avenue, Whitelight)
Jan Åkesson – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals (S.A.Y.)
Lasse Johansson – Bass (Jan Åkesson’s Shadow Rain)
Jens Westberg – Drums (Jan Åkesson’s Shadow Rain, S.A.Y.)
BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Thunder-Rain-Stonelake/dp/B07CF6WDS3
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