Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2025 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.
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS!
- 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
May 2025
- The Speaker Wars: The Speaker Wars
- Giant: Stand And Deliver
- Sign Of The Wolf: Sign Of The Wolf
- Harem Scarem: Chasing Euphoria
- Cosmic Cathedral: Deep Water
- Beholder: In the Temple of the Tyrant
- Art Nation: The Ascendance
- Laurenne/Louhimo: Falling Through Stars
- Rock Out: Let's Call It Rock N Roll
- The Flower Kings: Love
- Maestrick : Espresso Della Vita: Lunare
March 2025
- W.E.T.: Apex
- Alliance: Before Our Eyes
- Ginevra: Beyond Tomorrow
- Phil X & The Drills:
Pow! Right In The Kisser - IQ: Dominion
- Heart Line: Falling Heaven
- Gotthard: Stereo Crush
- Defender: Dying To Live
- Streetlight: Night Vision
February 2025
- Robin McAuley: Soulbound
- Perfect Plan: Heart Of A Lion
- Craig Brooks: Desolation Freeway
- Mantric Momentum: Alienized
- Pattern-Seeking Animals: Friend Of All Creatures
- Crazy Lixx: Thrill Of The Bite
- Ginger Evil: The Way It Burns
- Dream Theater: Parasomnia
- Tyran: Tyran's Oath
- Saber: Lost In Flames
January 2025
- Wildness: Avenger
- The Ferrymen: Iron Will
- Labyrinth: In The Vanishing Echoes Of Goodbye
- Bonfire: Higher Ground
- The Big Deal: Electrified
- Landfall: Wide Open Sky
December 2024
- After Lapse: Pathways
- Illusion Force: Halfana
- Powell-Payne: Voilá
Grand: Grand
Grand: Grand
AOR Melodic Rock
4.5/5.0
Facebook
Instagram
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.10.2022 | Released: 21.10.2022
Arriving from the Stockholm area, Grand is a new project begun by experienced Swedish singer and songwriter Mattias Olofsson. After some 20 years in the business, Mr Olofsson wanted to create his own AOR project. He found some kindred spirits with from the genre in guitarist and producer Jakob Svensson (Wigelius) and drummer Anton Martinez Matz. Grand, a trio, was born and recently picked up by Frontiers Music for their self-titled debut.
Grand
The Grand sound merges classic AOR melodic rock with some very natural West Coast influences. For fans of both (related) genres, the Grand musical formula is a familiar one. All the songs within this debut are largely based upon the melodic lead vocals, harmonious vocal arrangements, and straight up rock rhythm and groove. The last part is prominent but never really transforms into heavier or edgy melodic hard rock. Grand wants to get your toe-tapping, not beat you over the head with pummeling rock. All these things, however, are wrapped in creative song writing spiced by catchy refrains, synth embellishment, and strong guitar solos.
Moving on to some song samples. For some stronger AOR, without losing the song melody and harmony, listen for Stone Cold, Ready When You Are, and the rather hefty Johnny On The Spot. Alternatively, songs becoming more AOR subtle and smooth arrive with Caroline, The Price We Pay, and Those Were The Days. A little faster but with a similar motif is Too Late. Closer to anthems or ballads are After We Say Goodbye and Anything For You.
All in all, for pure AOR melodic rock, Sweden's Grand and their debut album hits the mark, thanks to creative song writing from a trio of gifted and veteran musicians who understand the genre better than most. Easily recommended.
Support the Artist & Dangerdog Music Reviews: This title is available, with unlimited streaming, via an Amazon Music account.
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
The Take Away
All in all, for pure AOR melodic rock, Sweden's Grand and their debut album hits the mark, thanks to creative song writing from a trio of gifted and veteran musicians who understand the genre better than most. Easily recommended.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
Three decades on and still going strong is the iconic progressive rock band, The Flower Kings, founded by veteran multi-instrumentalist and composer Roine Stolt. Since 1994, The Flower Kings have been known ... [ Read More ]
April 2025 Stats
- Views: 12K
- Active Users: 3.3K
- New Users: 2.7K
- Event Count: 35K
Source: Google Analytics