WICKMAN ROAD – After The Rain (2016)
Young Swedish 5-piece WICKMAN ROAD lovely AOR songs created such great impression at AOR Heaven Records headquarters that the label decided to add the band to their roster and will be releasing their debut “After The Rain” tomorrow June 24.
Sweden seems to churning out new, young melodic rock / AOR bands in such quantity – and most importantly, quality – that definitely there must be something in the water there.
Wickman Road, who hail from a place called Rydaholm in the southern section of the Scandinavian archipelago, has its foundation in two sets of brothers – Henrik & Robert Åkesson, who teamed up with first Carl and then Eric Ahlqvist in the early part of this decade – and it is this familial relationship which gives this debut an album a tightness and a dynamic which it perhaps it would otherwise might have lacked.
Having said that, ‘After The Rain’ is an album which is steeped in pure AOR tradition, referencing all aspects of the genre from British heroes such as FM or Dare through the likes of REO Speedwagon, Toto and Foreigner to fellow countrymen such as Houston or Eclipse, as they blend classic influences with modern sounding sensibilities.
The opening title track is a delicious slice of classically-crafted AOR with a melodic framework encapsulating an insanely catchy chorus. It’s midtempo, elegant and atmospheric with a Strangeways (UK) feel.
‘Breaking Free’ is more up, with a crunchy opening riff built on the classic melodic rock foundation of combining huge harmonies with equally mammoth choruses plus classy keyboard flourishes.
‘I Believe In You’ could be ripped straight from the songbooks of the likes of Jim Peterik with its swollen bridge and lighter-waving chorus.
Then ‘I Can’t Wait Anymore’ is simply fantastic: a mid to fast-paced melodic rocker growing on alternating grooves with a crunching harmonic and a punchy vocal performance from Eric Ahlqvist. A highlight.
Indeed, as with many Scandi-AOR acts, it is the singer who steals the show. Ahlqvist has a richness and lusciousness of tone which truly draws out the lifeblood of the songs. He’s also an exemplar of the new generation of singers who continually prove you don’t have to scream to make yourself heard.
Like many of his predecessors, and thankfully a growing number of his contemporaries, Ahlqvist eases into his performance, breathing life into his voice and, as an organic result, the songs themselves.
No finer example of this is ‘No Matter The Distance’: it’s a very simple ballad at heart, slightly bombastic in its production, but based around the singer’s passionate baritone and a beautifully effective piano refrain.
It’s also a song which also highlights the contrasts of the album, as it’s immediately followed by the classic AOR punch and groove of ‘In A Minute’ in a way in which the likes of Survivor blended light and shade so effortlessly.
I can see why AOR Heaven signed Wickman Road; the band honors the record label’s name as “After The Rain” is, indeed, pure AOR heaven with a true ’80s spirit yet with an updated sound 2016.
With this debut, Wickman Road have shown that they have both an appreciation of the heritage in which they are grounded, and the attitude / ability to ensure that it is in safe hands for the immediate future.
A mandatory listen for all AOR freaks out there.
01 – After The Rain
02 – Breaking Free
03 – I Believe in You
04 – I Can’t Wait Anymore
05 – All Alone
06 – Couldn’t Find the Way
07 – Home
08 – No Matter the Distance
09 – In a Minute
10 – Now When You’re Gone
11 – Time
Eric Ahlqvist – Vocals
Henrik Åkesson – Guitars
Robert Åkesson – Bass
Carl Ahlqvist – keyboards
Simon Rydén – Drums
PRE ORDER:
www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/wickman-road-after-the-rain.html
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