GRAND – Grand (2022) *HQ*
GRAND was formed in 2020 in the southern outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden. Vocalist Mattias Olofsson had always nurtured a dream of releasing his own AOR project one day. Working for almost two decades as a professional singer and songwriter, he kept experimenting with ideas and writing songs, just waiting for the right moment. In the fall of 2020, the stars finally aligned, when he came to know two fellow musicians who shared his passion for the AOR genre: guitarist and producer Jakob Svensson (Wigelius) and drummer Anton Martinez Matz. The trio joined forces soon after and Grand became a reality.
Through a combination of old and new ideas, all with influences from their favorite bands such as Starship, Foreigner, Mr. Big, Giant, and the like, four songs were finalized that the band felt best represented who they wanted to be. They started to send the songs to different labels and in 2021, they signed with Frontiers Music.
On their upcoming self-titled debut CD, Grand continues a long tradition of spectacular AOR bands emerging from Sweden. Lovers of all things melodic rock will surely need to add “Grand” to their must-listen list for 2022!
GRAND are as good an AOR / Melodic Rock band as we’ve heard on Frontiers for some time now. They make it sound effortless, and you’ve got to work damn hard to achieve that. Olofsson’s subtle, understated Melodic Rock production balances guitars, keys and voices on a tightrope of solidly constructed melodies, embracing just enough aural hooks to constantly enthral.
The singer’s vocal similarities to Jon (Yes) Anderson on opener ‘Caroline’ is something of a distraction though, edging the track’s dreamily textured AOR into Proglite territory.
Then the album bursts into life. ‘Stone Cold’ is the killer cut, a heartstopping AOR thrill machine that shares its DNA with Work Of Art’s magnum opus, ‘Why Do I’.
None of the tracks that follow measure up to ‘Stone Cold’, but each one has its own melody to sell, it’s own story to tell, and all seem happy existing in the penumbra of that explosive slice of AOR.
The slickly manufactured soft rock of ‘The Price We Pay’, a high quality Starship styled retread from their poppified Peter Wolf days, and the swirling, chiming radio rock of ‘Johnny On The Spot’, a John Waite / Giant soundalike that stops just short of being too flamboyant, aren’t far behind.
‘Make It Grand’ visits the US sleaze/glam rock era, brimful of attitude, big guitars and ‘na-na-nas’.
But we’re brought back into line by the band’s undeniable AOR songcraft with the ‘endless summers’ melody of the gentle Westcoast AOR of ‘Those Were The Days’ and the romantic, understated ‘After We Said Goodbye’ stand side by side with the the ghosts of a thousand influences.
No question, Grand’s music plays to the past, but it’s right here with us in the present, showcasing this timeless style & sound will never die.
A MUST
01 – Caroline
02 – Stone Cold
03 – Make It Grand
04 – The Price We Pay
05 – Johnny on the Spot
06 – Those Were the Days
07 – Once in a Blue Moon
08 – Too Late
09 – After We’ve Said Goodbye
10 – Ready When You Are
11 – Anything for You
Mattias Olofsson – Lead and Background Vocals
Jakob Svensson – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Anton Martinez Matz – Drums and Bass
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