NAKED – End Game [Japanese Edition +1] (2015)

NAKED was founded in Sweden in around 2000 by guitarist Mats Stattin and vocalist Peter Sundvall, a well known cat in the Scandinavian melodic rock scene. Recently, the line-up was completed with highly respected musicians from the genre; Tony Borg (Alien), bass player Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse, LaValle) and drummer Mikael Wikman.
“End Game” is Naked’s awesome debut album, appeared in Japan with a bonus track.

Naked style is classic Scandi AOR Melodic Hard Rock inspired by the Eighties sound, chock full of melodies akin Treat, Alien, Skagarack, etc.
Sundvall has a terrific sweet voice for lighter side of the genre: clean, clear, and quite melodic. And Naked, as a band, works hard a creating stupendous vocal arrangements. After these things, every song is packed with solid melodies and groove, with catchy hooks in both arrangements and lyrics.
Veteran Tony Borg from Alien adds copious amounts of harmonious riffs, energetic solos and organizes the keyboard embellishment, which is mostly unobtrusive and works more like atmosphere.

When these elements come together at their best, Naked delivers some AOR radio-friendly monsters like ‘Aim For The Heart’, the excellent ‘Leaving You Tonight’, the super catchy and driving melodic rocker ‘Still In Love With You’, or the West Coast flavor of ‘Love Ain’t No Game’.
Some songs can rock a little harder, almost with a hard rock edge like ‘Silverthorn’ or ‘The Great War’, with it’s rousing riffs and quick pace. The latter is also a song where the keyboards are a bit more present, notably just after the middle part.
‘Blood Of My Blood’ provides the melodic midtempo typical of the genre, while ‘End Of Eternity’ explores the ballad territory yet with substance, adding some acoustics to the electric guitars, fretless bass and a female vocalist dueting with Sundvall.
This Japanese edition features as bonus a ‘piano mix’ of ‘End Of Eternity’, quite different from the original, and which is even better.

Really well composed, arranged and performed, “End Game” is a very solid debut by Naked, a disc full of classic Scandinavian AOR / Melodic Rock melodies. It takes you back to the second half of the ’80s with pleasure.
Tony Borg was essential to elevate “End Game” to an upper level, his guitar work (very classic) are the key for this songs to impact greatly.
Highly Recommended.

Rubicon Japan ~ 【DAKRBNCD-1198】

01 – Silverthorn
02 – Aim for the Heart
03 – Blood of My Blood
04 – Leaving You Tonight
05 – Born to Live for Love
06 – Victoria Avenue
07 – End of Eternity
08 – Setting Sails
09 – Still in Love With You
10 – The Great War
11 – Love Aint No Game
12 – Destination Unknown
13 – End Of Eternity (piano mix) [Japanese bonus track]

Peter Sundvall – Lead and backing vocals
Mats Stattin – Rhythm Guitar
Tony Borg (Alien) – Lead Guitar, Keyboards
Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse, LaValle) – Bass
Mikael Wikman – Drums
Shuji Matsumoto – Fretless Bass on 7
Pete Newdeck (Eden’s Curse) – Backing vocals, Piano on 7
Jennie Jahns – Guest vocals on Duet 7

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www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/DAKRBNCD-1198
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