Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Heartwind: III
Heartwind - III Album Art

Heartwind: III

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
4.5/5.0

It's been four years since we last heard from Sweden's Heartwind and their second album, Strangers. The core members of the band remain: Goran Engvall (guitars), Mikael Rosengren (keyboards) and Peter Svensson (drums). Previous albums featured guest musicians and multiple vocalists. With their latest and third studio album, III Heartwind pushes the envelope with eight different vocalists over ten song, along with other guest musicians. It's an impressive list of genre all stars:

Heartwind - Click For Larger Image

Heartwind

Matti Alfonzetti (solo), Nalle Påhlsson (Treat), Rick Altzi (Gathering of Kings), Fredrik Folkare (Unleashed), Jakob Samuel (The Poodles), Henrik Bergqvist (The Poodles), Thomas Vikström (Therion), Andreas Novak (House of Shakira) Robert van der Zwan (Remedy), Carl Berglund (Age of Reflection), Matt Marinelli (Borealis) and Nina Söderquist (solo).


Essentially, III strays little from Heartwind's musical formula of AOR melodic hard rock, sometimes with a metal edge, and always driven by song and vocal melody and harmony, sharp riffs, memorable refrains, and roaring guitar solos.

Honestly, I can assure the reader and listener every song within is exceptional and highly entertaining. This would include the two songs (Cry For Love and One Reason) featuring Rick Altzi, even though I don't enjoy his nail-chewing coarse voice. His One Reason is the closest thing to a ballad. My favorites were rockers Warrior (Jakob Samuel), Blink Of An Eye (Thomas Vikstrom), Brothers (also Vikstrom), and the absolutely fantastic single, Struck By Love (Matti Alfonzetti).

All in all, with III Heartwind delivers another powerful and entertaining album of their signature AOR-driven melodic hard rock, thanks to a collaboration with a significant number of talent guest musicians and vocalists from the genre. Very recommended.



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

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, with III Heartwind delivers another powerful and entertaining album of their signature AOR-driven melodic hard rock, thanks to a collaboration with a significant number of talent guest musicians and vocalists from the genre. Very recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Eclipse: Megalomanium II Album Review

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]

August 2024 Stats
  • Views: 15K
  • Active Users: 3.9K
  • New Users: 3.3K
  • Event Count: 43K
  • Source: Google Analytics