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

Swedish AOR / Melodic Rock outfit OSUKARU re-release their album “Transition” (2015) 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.
Created by Swedish guitarist Oz Osukaru, the band is the vehicle to spread his love for AOR / melodic rock sounds. At the time of “Transition”, the band had two singers in Fredrik Werner and Cecilia Camuii, male and female vocalists to provide variation.
Starting off the album is “Arrows”, a duet I hold as one of the best Oz-written songs ever. The mix between Fredrik and Cecilia here is really good. The song also sets the sound on the record; sharp riffs, keyboard flourishes and bright production.
“Strangled Emotions” is more of an AOR affair including Osukarus’ special touch on all their albums; a saxophone arrangement which made them pretty unique. “Edge Of A Broken Heart” is a typically female-fronted melodic rock song finely sung by Cecilia, but the instrumentation is the star here, including a killer guest guitar solo by Janne Stark (Grand Design).

After this we get “Play”, almost entirely instrumental with few vocals by Werner. This bany rocks hard with screaming guitars by Oz but later mixed with sax resulting in a great blend. “Blinded Eyes” is a midtempo melodic hard rock track but with an AOR feeling throwing in. The main melody is strong, and even at places, the instrumental scales are a bit progressive.

“Tell Me You’ll Stay” come out vibrant, glossy, full on dynamics. “Out of Touch” rocks with a strong Werner performance. “Maffia Rules” features Erik Heikne (Miss Behaviour) playing some mean guitar as guest, plus additional vocals from Jules Millis (White Widdow).
As bonus, there’s very nice ‘reimagined versions’ from two of the best Osukaru songs: ”Change of Heart [reimagined]”, and ”City Lights [reimagined]”.

Osukaru is a band that has been fighting for more than a decade to get established into the scene, and this reissue is a fine opportunity to check out their timeless brand of classy AOR / Melodic Rock.
Highly Recommended

01 – Arrows
02 – Strangled Emotions
03 – Edge Of A Broken Heart
04 – Play
05 – Blinded Eyes
06 – FM Rocks 98.5 [Redux]
07 – Tell Me You’ll Stay
08 – Out of Touch
09 – Mafia Rules
10 – Promised Land
11 – Change of Heart [reimagined] – bonus track
12 – City Lights [reimagined] – bonus track

Oz Hawe Petersson – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Fredrik Werner – lead & backing vocals, guitar
Cecilia Camuii – lead & backing vocals
Vidar Mårtensson – drums & percussion

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