LOMMI – Life In Sepia (CD paper pocket)

Not sure about the name, but it may be a pun on Tony Iommi (whom we sometimes used to call Tommi Lommi). Anyway, brace yourselves for this new Swedish power trio featuring drummer Jörgen Tjusling and bassist Dennis Österdal who have played (and play) with bands like Eaglestrike and Human Race. A tight rhythm section indeed. This time they are fronted by singer/guitarist Jens Florén and form a trio who is more in the vein of Black Label Society in degree of heaviness, but with some elements reminding me a bit of early Alice In Chains in songs like Suffer. It’s all very raw, untamed and crude, but in a good way. I’m not always 100 % into the vocals, but for the most part Jens does the job really well. At times I’m a bit torn between feeling it’s a bit too crude, like in Honesty and Leaver, but I still digging it. It’s a bit like when I heard Motörhead for the first time, like watching a horror movie through your fingers, if you know what I mean. And Motörhead did grow into a long term musical friend of mine. Powerless Consciousness reminds me a bit like playing a Pantera single on 33, it sort of reminds of Walk, but slower and heavier. Back From the Dead is a really cool rocker, starting out almost reminding me a bit of Ghost, which only goes for the intro. A great chunky rocker indeed. It’s a weird album in the sense that it’s no favorite of mine, but I still keep coming back to it. I think we have a love/hate relationship. A good one, that is. 
Janne Stark
Year: 2012
Country: Sweden
Label: private release 

MÅRRAN - Mårran (CD)

Talk about an unexpected musical constellation! Göran Edman, singer extraordinaire with bands like Madison, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kharma, Norum, Glory etc., Björn Inge, drummer with classic seventies hard rockers November and renowned keyboard player Max Lorentz, flanked by bassist Morgan Korsmoe (Larz Christerz) and guitarist Ludwig Larsson (Dynamite Sky). Well, if I would compare these guys to any of their previous outings, it would definitely be November. Mårran plays seventies oriented, blues, groovy, riff-oriented hard rock sung in Swedish. What differs from November is Max’s hot and fat Hammond organ, which gives it a bit of a good old Deep Purple touch. I really love the earthy, acoustic sounding mix. The drums sound like they were recorded live in a good size room and the guitar oozes of tube amplification. Ludwig Larsson, looks like a pretty young guy, but his guitar playing sure sounds like he’s been around as long as his older fellows. The solo the guy kicks out in Dina ögon är blå is just amazing, and the break after the solo-part is worth the price of the CD alone. The track Del av mitt liv, reminds me a bit of the classic Free track Mr. Big and here the band is reinforced with Björn Inge’s former November colleague, guitarist Rickard Rolf, who adds a really nice solo. The intro of Syster Blå brings back memories of the first Montrose album, and Denny Carmassi kicking off Rock Candy. Not the same rhythm I know, but the general feel of it. A cool riff, and a pretty unexpected very melodic chorus. Med Lena shows a slightly folk-oriented touch. This is one of the most interesting Swedish releases of 2012 so far. It’s nothing new, there is no flashy wizardry, there are no hits, it’s just an album filled to the brim with really great music, played by outstanding musicians that have the power to express and transfer feelings through their music. Authentic, dynamic, groovy, infectious and damn great!
Janne Stark
Label: S Rock Records
Country: Sweden
Year: 2012
Link: www.mårran.se 

HOUSE OF SHAKIRA - HoS (CD)

House Of Shakira may not be the most productive band in the world, but when they do grace us with an album they do do make a nice impact. On this album we find new, excellent, singer Andreas Novak. Andreas has previously been found in prog metal band Mind’s Eye and he has made a couple of much slicker, but still great, solo releases. Now he’s fronting AOR institution House Of Shakira, and I must say it’s a bit of a match made in heaven. His slightly raspy voice really gives the band that extra edge. The line-up also presents two more new faces, bassist Basse Blyberg and drummer Martin Larsson. This however hasn’t changed anything, I’d say, except that they have actually added a bit more edge to their sound. I would place House Of Shakira in the AOR category, but quite honestly they are more melodic hard rock. No fluffy keyboards and no over-sweeted sleaziness. They have always had a stroke of early Journey in their music, and they still do. We’re talking Journey in their edgy moments here. What about this album then? Well, it did actually take me a couple of listens to really get into the album, which for me is a good thing, since it tends to last longer then. I can only say – House Of Shakira has done it again. This is a really great melodic rocker and I really love the new spark of energy I see in the band. Old fans of the band will still recognize the great hooks, the big choruses and the general vibe, and if they can stomach a git rawer guitars, a less polished sound, you’ll love this one. For me, that’s right up my alley. After having given this album four-five spins, it has now actually become my favourite House Of Shakira release. Yepp, there you go! The House is back in da house!

Janne Stark
Label: Lion Music
Year: 2012Country.Sweden
Link: http://www.houseofshakira.com/

ELECTRIC EARTH - Touching The Void (CD digi)

Electric Earth have been quiet for a while, but now they are back again. It’s been four years since the last release “Vol II – Words Unspoken”, which was a pretty good release. When listening to “Touching The Void” I do hear some development in the style. It’s a bit less post-grungy and a bit more seventies, but also a bit darker and heavier. Tracks like “Collision With A Sun” and “Touching The Void” offer some cool retro-vibes, at times with a stonery touch. They do however offer some great melodies among the heavy riffing, like the chorus of "Free Fall” and the slightly poppy “Need This Time”. One track that really sticks out is the almost punky, “Black Butterfly”. The stonerish overtones shine through in songs like “Sugartooth”. I also hear some touches of Black Label Society in songs like “Harvest Time”, “Bird Of Phoenix” and “Skinstretched”, where the chorus however goes in a totally unexpected, very melodic direction. An album well worth waiting for and checking out!

Janne Stark
Label: TYSS Music
Country: Sweden
Year: 2011
Link: http://www.electricearth1.com/

MALISON ROGUE - Malison Rogue (CD)

For some reason I expected this to be another new classic 80s style heavy metal band in the vein of Steelwing, Enforcer etc., but wrong was I. Malison Rogue actually feels more like a bastard child of Iron Maiden and H.E.A.T with a touch of classic Queensryche thrown in for good measure. The band has a great vocalist in Sebastian “Zeb” Jansson. I sometimes hear a bit of Tempest, sometimes a bit of Midnight and a touch of Dickinson in some spots, but the boy does have a voice of is own. With some more recordings under his belt this guy can become one of our top metal singers, no doubt. This is actually a bloody good album, I must say! A positive surprise. The songs are well structured with nice hooks and great arrangements. The mix, by none other than Mats Leven, is ballsy and clear with a great balance. The guitars are definitely in your face but without being overpowering and the bass also finds its spot in the mix showing Petter “Pete Fury” Furå does know how to handle the four string thing. Jonatan Björkborg handles the guitar playing flawlessly with some really nice solos and some great harmony stuff thrown in. The album is however surprisingly short, only eight songs and under 40 minutes. The positive side of it is that you actually want to hear more and there are absolutely no fillers. A new promising act too keep a look out for!
Janne Stark
Country: Sweden
Year: 2011
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Link: http://www.myspace.com/malisonrogue