Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2023 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
September 2023
- Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
- Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
- Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
- Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
- The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
- Vega: Battlelines
- Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
- Primal Fear: Code Red
- Eclipse: Megalomanium
- Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
- Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)
August 2023
- Hurricane: Reconnected
- U.D.O.: Touchdown
- Streetlight: Ignition
- Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
- Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
- Rian: Wings
- Icon Of Sin: Legends
- Lancer: Tempest
- King Kobra: We Are Warriors
- Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
- Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
- Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose
July 2023
- Turkish Delight: Volume Two
- Winterstorm: Everfrost
- Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
- James Robledo: Broken Soul
- Houston: Relaunch III
- All For Metal: Legends
- Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
- Bloodbound: Tales From The North
- Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
- Degreed: Public Address
June 2023
- Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
- Midnite City: In At The Deep End
- Pyramaze: Bloodlines
- Shakra: Invincible
- Vypera: Race Of Time
- Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
- Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
- Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
- The Defiants: Drive
- Ray Alder: II
- Art Nation: Inception
- False Memories: Hybrid Ego System
Nordic Union: Nordic Union
Nordic Union: Nordic Union
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
5.0/5.0
Website (Label)
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 222.01.2016
One thing Frontiers Music and President Serafino Perugino is really good at doing is arranging terrific musical collaborations. This time around it's Nordic Union featuring Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins and, from Eclipse and W.E.T., guitarist, songwriter, and producer Erik Martensson It's another winning combination.
Nordic Union: Atkins & Martensson
And for several reasons. Martensson is an exceptional songwriter who emphasizes melody and harmony, strong guitar lines, an abundance of groove, and some simply catchy hooks in arrangements and lyrics. Atkins has always been a strong hard rock and heavy metal singer. He's in his element here. His assertive, raspy, yet melodic style fits the music. No doubt Martensson had this in mind as well when crafting the songs. As to the songs, the Nordic Union sound, it's classic AOR infused melodic hard rock with a significant metal edge. This largely comes from the sharp heavy riffage, but also the significant rhythm. So then pretty much everything here rock hard. Some of the best cuts are When Death Is Calling, The War Has Begun, Go, and Wide Awake. All these loaded with fiery guitar solos. There are some tamer moments with the ballads Every Heartbeat and True Love Awaits, which will probably remind most listeners of Martensson's AOR style with W.E.T.. Actually, after a spin or two, I thought Nordic Union sounded like a hybrid of Pretty Maids and Treat. Nevertheless, Nordic Union's debut album delivers the goods: superbly crafted and entertaining melodic hard rock with a large metal edge. Recommended.
Nordic Union - The War Has Begun
Share This Review with Your Friends
Tweet
In Short
Nordic Union's debut album delivers the goods: superbly crafted and entertaining melodic hard rock with a large metal edge. Recommended.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
Album of the Week
Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]