PRIDE (Sweden) – Playing With Fire [2025 reissue] +2 YesterRock Extras *HQ* Exclusive

PRIDE was a terrific Swedish AOR band active between 1987 and 1991. Their sound can be compared to some of Scandinavia’s leading bands from the era, such as Treat, Glory or Fate. Despite the intense touring and the release of the singles ‘You’re The Only One’ and ‘Dreamer In The Night’ in 1989, the recorded material for an album was never released before specialized label AOR-FM in 2008 picked up the tapes and released a limited 550 copies edition.
All over the world, rabid AOR fans asked for more, but the CD was sold out. Fortunately, back in 2011 excellent reissue label YesterRock reissued “Pride” with two previously unreleased tracks and the original artwork.
However, the YesterRock CD is also out of print now, so the band themselves are re-releasing 2025 the album re-titled “Playing With Fire“. As extra, we added the valuable YesterRock bonus tracks.

If you like classic ’80s Scandi AOR / Melodic Rock you can’t go wrong here; the lead single ‘You’re The Only One’ has a very commercial radio oriented sound, with lots of keyboards and a catchy chorus.’Dreamer In The Night’ is a faster paced track which gallops on heavy synths and melodic guitar riffs.
For a pure dose of AOR, Pride offer up the excellent ‘Playing With Fire’, in the best Swedish tradition.

‘Someone’s Calling Your Name’ continues that purists form of AOR, with some lovely keyboard layers tracking the guitars. It’s typically Swedish circa 1988 – and typically good! ‘Turn It Up’ is part of the 1990 recorded tracks. A keyboard driven song with a good guitar solo.
‘Love Is Hard To Live With’ is the band’s first ballad on the album, featuring the classic Scandi-AOR climax, they sound like Treat or Da Vinci here. Really good. ‘Movin’ On’ is one of the better songs onboard, it’s generally fast-paced with Glory-like attributes.

There are lots of guitars on offer with ‘Let It In’, it has a big wall of keyboards underpinning it, with the occasional synth parp and a good chorus. ‘Over The Guideline’ initially is a brooding mid-tempo affair, the band wind it up for the final section – which is a fast and furious close-out to the end.
‘Heartless Woman’ has an early Bad Habit mould, a light melodic rocker with a simple but effective keyboard line.
‘Valkyria’ finishes up the CD with a mid-tempo pace, very melodic, with nice harmonies and candy keys.

PRIDE played classic ’80s Scandi-AOR / Melodic Rock, with good taste and great sense of melody. The sound quality is surprisingly good even if many of the songs are just pre-production demos.
This band / album is essential for any Scandi-AOR fan and melodic rock collectors.

01 – Playing With Fire
02 – Someone Is Calling Your Name
03 – Dreamer In The Night
04 – You’re The Only One
05 – Turn It Up
06 – Good Intuition
07 – Love Is Hard To Live With
08 – Movin’ On
09 – Let It In
10 – Changin’
11 – Over The Guideline
0dayrox extras:
12 – Heartless Woman (YesterRock reissue Bonus Track)
13 – Valkyria (YesterRock reissue Bonus Track)

Dan Kristiansson – vocals
Stefan Karlström – keyboards
Jonas Öhlund – guitar
Johan Agerberg – bass
Anders Pellving – drums

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