OSUKARU – House Of Mirrors +2 [Pride & Joy Music Classixx reimagined mix / Redux] (2024)

Swedish AOR / Melodic Rock outfit OSUKARU re-release their album “House Of Mirrors” (2018) as part of the Pride & Joy Music Classixx series including bonus tracks, some remixes and refreshed artwork. The album was out of print and this reissue is limited to 300 CD copies.
Ever since I first heard Osukaru there was something about the band I really liked. They’ve not always presented the best professionally produced product. But leader, composer and guitarist Oz Osukaru has always had the focus in a good mix of melodic rock / AOR in the classy style.
“House Of Mirrors +2 [Pride & Joy Music Classixx reimagined mix / Redux]” is definitely one of the best produced & mixed Osukaru albums. All starts of with an intro called ‘Past the Present’ that reminds me of a ’80s tv-series ala Miami Vice, followed by ‘You’ve Been Waiting’, and since the first note you hear a mature Osukaru-the band. Everything feels tight, the band confident, and production sound well done.

As usual Osukaru mix strong melodic rock riffs with some classic AOR melodies. The most flavored song in this vein here is ‘Ain’t Too Late (For Love)’, a sweet tune with nice keys / synths.
However, in this album the band really shines on the melodic hard rockers, and most tracks on the CD are in this style, which suits vocalist Fredrik Werner voice very well. As example, the rocking rough edge of ‘X Marks the Spot’ is one of the stronger numbers.

Sure, Osukaru are known as well for their power ballads, and ‘Until Forever Ends’ is one of their finest, and even here there’s more muscle than the band’s past songs in this style, probably thanks to the production and mix.
‘All Guns Blazing’ blend the best sides of Osukaru. It starts as an AOR song in the verses but shifts to a more Melodic Hard Rock sound with a catchy chorus. In terms of instrumentation, this is one of the most interesting track on the album as so much happens with both a bass solo/fill from Olof Gadd as well as a variated tempo and power to the song. The solo features Magnus Mild from metallers Air Raid in a duet with Oz, and rocks.

‘MacGyver It’ is a catchy melodic tune with fine vocal arrangements and great rhythm guitar work, also presented as bonus track with a different mix.
‘Inception’ is another highlight, an edgy AOR song with sharp guitars, where Anna Savage of Vanity Blvd lends her absolutely stunning voice to this duet and man do I love her voice. The song also include saxophone played by a former family member of Osukaru Jens Björk AOR with both power and melody.

‘Felicity Drive’ somehow returns to the tv-intro synths – the verses are wonderfully midtempo AOR, and the chorus quite anthemic. It’s quite different from what the band has done so far, composed by drummer Vidar Mårtensson, and a more than welcomed variation to the Osuakru sound.

“House Of Mirrors” not only is one of the best and most complete Osukaru albums, it’s where they found a sound, a style and professionalism on all aspects.
Plenty of very good songs in the classic Melodic Hard Rock / AOR style, “House Of Mirrors” will please to all fans of Lionville, Wild Rose, etc.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Past the Present
02 – You’ve Been Waiting
03 – Ritual
04 – Ain’t Too Late (For Love)
05 – X Marks the Spot
06 – Until Forever Ends
07 – All Guns Blazing
08 – MacGyver It
09 – Red Heat
10 – Inception
11 – Felicity Drive
12 – Ritual (instrumental demo mix) – bonus track
13 – MacGyver It (instrumental demo mix) – bonus track

Oz Hawe Petersson – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Fredrik Werner – lead & backing vocals, guitar
Olof Gadd – bass, backing vocals
Vidar Mårtensson – drums & percussion

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