GRAND DESIGN – Idolizer (2011)

Grand Design’s 1st album “Time Elevation” released in early 2009, gained massive success and was awarded ‘best album’ and ‘best song’ by BeRockRadio and received numerous top 10 positions for the year.
Now, it’s time for the second album #2, “Idolizer”, with the line-up intact, which has given to the band’s sound the benefit to sound even more cohesive and tight.

The big guess with this second effort was if Grand Design would depart from the Def Leppard-esque style to a new territory.
Vocalist Pelle Saether says: “We knew we had found a formula to make an ’80s rock record work in the 21st century – so why change it?”
A true statement, isn’t it?
Several bands have issued albums in the past years with a strong Def Leppard influence, 7th Heaven and Wildstreet immediately come to mind, but nobody has been able to accomplish the task as well as Grand Design has.
Again, they have taken the best of Pyromania, Hysteria and Adrenalize, but this time adding some new modern approach, mixed them into their own concoction, and the result is “Idolizer”, a lovely, catchy rockin’ album.
Saether adds: ”Since we all love Def Leppard, it will always be an influence we use to spice up things.”

“Get On With The Action” gets everything going and I can’t think of a better way to start the album off than with this melodic rocker. Foot stomping rhythms from bassist Anders Modd and gang vocals that would make Joe Elliott & the boys green with envy are only the tip of the iceberg for this tasty little treat. Guitarists Peter Ledin and Dennis Veldman smoke this song as does drummer Richard Holmgren.
On the next track “Change Me Up” Grand Design explores a more modern structure. This song, particularly on the verses, reminds you The Poodles and alikes, but retaining the ’80s sound.
Follower “Oughtograugh” spells pretty much as ‘Photograph”, eh? This uptempo rocker is full of layered vocals and melodic guitars, making this song one of the catchiest of the year. “Your Loves A Runaway” is the ‘Hysteria’ of the new century, sounding a bit Scandi though.
You can’t go wrong with titles as “Rock Back To The ’80s”, “Lets Rawk The Nite” or “Addiction For Love”. All this disc is pure eighties nostalgia, and a good one.

All the songs on “Idolizer” are catchy to the max, a hit after hit that if this album was released in the ’80s would have made Grand Design household names.
Sure, they follow and almost reproduce in all departments the Def Lepp formula, but so, so well that is pleasure to the ears.
Copy-cats? Maybe, but awesome.
Production is even BIGger than the debut, polished, crispy, with tons of layered vocals to die for.
“Idolizer” is one album no melodic rock / hard rock fan should be without.

01 – Get On With The Action
02 – Change Me Up
03 – Oughtograugh
04 – Your Loves A Runaway
05 – Stealin’ My Love
06 – Lets Rawk The Nite
07 – Addiction For Love
08 – Idolize Me
09 – Rock Back To The 80’s
10 – You’re Gonna Dig On It

Pelle Saether: Lead Vocals
Anders Modd: Bass
Peter Ledin: Guitar & Backing Vocals
Dennis Vestman: Guitar & Backing Vocals
Richard Holmgren: Drums & Backing Vocals

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