BAD RADIATOR – BR V (2020)

Favorites of this website, Swedes BAD RADIATOR start this 2020 with their new, fifth album “BR V”. Formed in the ’80s under the name Grace, these seasoned musicians have been in the business for more than 30 years now.
And let me I tell you, the music of Bad Radiator has not aged at all. I am still impressed by their sound. There is something special about their mix of rock, pop, melodic rock and AOR crafted with a pristine production.

Bad Radiator 2020 sound is even smoother than before. The ’80s Scandi lite AOR melodies are – if you could ask – much more polished, suave in arrangements with a delicate poppy style adding an early Nineties vibe to them.
All songs are lifted by Mikael Lundgren’s charming voice – he’s like Mikael Erlandsson but with a classic rock&pop twist. This is mixed by elegant guitar riffs from Klas Bergvall that work fine with rather 90s influenced keyboard touches, and a fine production. Bass and drums take their duties seriously and it’s all a smooth machinery working as one mechanism.

”Heart Attack” is one of our favourites on this new album, and like many other songs it shows how Bad Radiator manage to give us a rocking delivery at the same time that it’s very AOR-ish, and sometimes 80s Radio flavoured.
This has been their trademark all through their career.

A bit of the same in ”Came Without a Warning” with a nice variation. This one has a quite soft costume, with the keyboard providing atmosphere. But the guitar solo kind of comes as a rainshower in sunshine, and brings that rockin’ edge even here.
I always get a bit scared with song titles like ”Rock’n’roll” – for being pedestrian – and there is such a tune on this album. But no need for a scary face – it’s one of the softer tunes on “BR V” and good too.

“BR V” is just another smooth, perfectly produced album by this quality band. It’s Scandinavian stuff from every corner, and if you love that Eighties / Nineties refined melodies, this is for you.
Highly Recommended

01 – Long Way From Home
02 – Heart Attack
03 – Coming Home
04 – Came Without a Warning
05 – Rock n Roll
06 – Fake
07 – King of the Lonely
08 – Tell Me Why I’m on the Run
09 – I Can’t Take It Anymore
10 – Falling Leaves

Mikael Lundgren – Vocals and Keys
Klas Bergvall – Guitar
Roger Hansson – Drums
Jan Persson – Bass

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www.badradiator.com/