SUNSTRIKE – Rock Your World (2014)

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SUNSTRIKE is a fairly new band from… where else? – Yes, Sweden… that performs… what else? – Yes, Melodic Rock / Scandi AOR of the highest order. Their debut “Rock Your World” released today April 25 through AOR Heaven Records has been billed as ‘an album that will blind you with catchy melodies and big choruses’.
Something to live up to and I can happily say that SunStrike deliver on all accounts. This album is simply awesome.

Formed two years ago by musicians associated with acts like Astral Doors, Twilight Force and Prey, as you would expect from a Swedish band these days, SunStrike sound immense on this, their debut album.
The six piece including Christian Hedgren on vocals, Johan Lindstedt on drums, Joachim Nordlund on lead guitar, Fredrik Plahn on keyboards, Mats Gesar on guitars and Bjorn Lundqvist on bass have obtained and incredible fuller and rich sound through these 12 songs.
“Rock Your World” has all a fan of Swedish AOR / Melodic Rock want for: big refrains, layers of keyboards, sharp guitars, choir choruses, the feeling of an ongoing party and the close-to-perfect musicianship, even if we’re talking ‘bout some youths over here.
The vocals of Christian Hedgren are shiny and passionate, clean and cut to impress the listener, while I was also positively shocked by the production and overall sound, which is fat and with a clear dimension.

With “Power Of The Dreams” you have an opener that doesn’t so much set the world alight as turn it into an AOR inferno. Plus in “Rock Your World”, the album’s title track this does indeed ROCK YOUR WORLD!
The same can be said for “Fireball” which has a swagger about it rarely seen in AOR right now that I flat out love! “Right Track” has a hint of Danger Danger about it – which will tick all my boxes any day, whilst “Roll The Dice” shows that the band really know how to crank it up.

In fact I’m halfway through “Rock Your World” and I haven’t once thought about reaching for the skip button – which indicates to me that this is an album that will stand the test of time, and one of the best of the year for sure.
Up next, mid paced rocker “Rock It Out” does the job of giving the listener a bit of a breather with ist stylized sound, then “Never Let You Go” whilst evoking images of stalkers, is something completely different – it is amazing!
The hauntingly beautiful ballad “Higher” is a favorite among favorites (all in this CD are); this song has everything an AOR fan could ever ask for.

We at 0dayrox proudly presented SunStrike here last year (0DAYROX Advanced Releases 2014) with two exclusive singles, now it’s time to enjoy the full debut album which is a true pleasure for the soul. On SunStrike AOR Heaven have found a band that lives up to the label’s title, that’s for sure.
With a brilliant mixing and mastering process by the Midas touch Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T), “Rock Your World” is already occupying a slot in my Top 10 this year.
Fans of H.E.A.T, Eclipse, W.E.T. should be ready to invest your bucks on this disc. It worth every cent.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (read A Must Have)

01 – Power Of The Dreams
02 – Rock Your World
03 – Fireball
04 – Right Track
05 – Roll The Dice
06 – Rock It Out
07 – Never Let You Go
08 – Higher
09 – Scream & Shout
10 – Into The Light
11 – Edge Of Life
12 – Heat Of The Night

Christian Hedgren – Vocals
Joachim Nordlund – Guitar
Johan Lindstedt – Drum
Mats Gesar – Guitar
Fredrik Plahn – Keyboards
Björn Lundqvist – Bass
mixed & mastered by Erik Mårtensson

BUY IT !
www.nehrecords.com/shop/SunstrikeRock.htm
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