Serafino Perugino, president of Frontiers Music, has put many artists together in various projects in the past. His latest pairing is a collaboration across Øresund between Swedish producer, guitarist and song writer Erik Mårtensson (W.E.T., Eclipse) and Danish vocalist Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids). And this pairing is the best yet by Mr. Perugino; a match made in heaven.
The Scandinavian duo operates under the moniker Nordic Union and has set the bar for 2016 for melodic rock very high. Former Eclipse bandmate Magnus Ulfstedt is the man behind the drum-kit, and Erik Mårtensson takes care of the production, guitars, bass and keyboards on this excellent album.
Nordic Union offers us eleven well crafted and produced melodic masterpieces, packed with excellent guitar riffs, brilliant harmonies, drama and beauty. Eleven songs that shifts between guitar-driven songs, melodramatic rock ballads and catchy hard rock songs; a melodic rock fans wet dream.
You won’t find a weak spot on this album and the production is perhaps the best I’ve ever heard on any hard rock album; warm, balanced and plenty of room for each instrument (seldom to hear a bass so prominent in a rock production). The guest lead guitarists: Magnus Henriksson (Eclipse), Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed) and Thomas Larsson (Glenn Hughes, Baltimoore) adds spice to overall picture.
While Denmark and Sweden might not see eye-to-eye in politics these days and have been fierce enemies thru history and on the football pitch, this is a perfect example of what can happen if you bring the best of both worlds together in a joint venture. In this case: close to perfection.
In short: “This is quintessential for melodic rock fans across the globe”!
Tracklist:
- The War Has Begun
- Hypocrisy
- Wide Awake
- Every Heartbeat
- When Death Is Calling
- 21 Guns
- Falling
- The Other Side
- Point of No Return
- True Love Awaits You
- Go
Playing Time: 42:18
Release date: January 29, 2016
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