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Jorn: Life On Death Road
Jorn - Life On Death Road CD Album Review

Jorn: Life On Death Road

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 24.05.2017

Jorn Lande needs little introduction. His reputation as the consummate hard rock and heavy metal vocalist and songwriter precedes him. Besides, to recite his musical curricula vitae would take many paragraphs and much time to read. Nearly 30 years on in his musical career, Jorn returns with this ninth studio album of original music, Life On Death Road.

Jorn Band Photo

Jorn and band

There are at least three significant signatures to a Jorn album. First, there's his immediately recognizable voice: strong, melodic, and bit raspy in delivery. Then there's his signature sound, melodic hard rock with a metal edge in finely arranged and expertly performed songs. Lastly, Jorn always gathers a strong band together to accompany him and bring his songs to life. While all these elements inform Live On Death Road, that latter element might sell the album. This band is made up of three parts of Primal Fear including the ubiquitous bass player, songwriter, and producer Matt Sinner, drummer Francesco Jovino, and guitar wizard Alex Beyrodt. That's all good. The band is rounded out with a ubiquitous Frontiers Music regular, Alessandro Del Vecchio on keyboards. Add this all up, and it's the perfect Jorn storm.

As for the album and songs, as with most Jorn albums, I'm inclined to the songs that blend the heaviness of metal with the groove of hard rock and then wrap both up in AOR accessibility. Good examples include Insoluble Maze, Hammered To The Cross, Devil You Can Drive, and Man Of The 80's, another tribute song to Jorn's roots. But a Jorn album is not without some anthems and ballads which come with Dreamwalker and more so with The Optimist, definitely a more mellow AOR style tune. Frankly, and not to be trivial, but Life On Death Road is thoroughly typical Jorn Lande. It's what you would expect and you're not disappointed. My only quibble, and this stands for most every one of his albums, is that some songs are too long and could be trimmed. But now I'm just nitpicking. If you dig Jorn, get Life On Death Road. You will be entertained. Recommended.



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The Bottom Line

Frankly, and not to be trivial, but Life On Death Road is thoroughly typical Jorn Lande: melodic hard rock with a metal edge with his distinctive vocal style. If you dig Jorn, get Life On Death Road. You will be entertained. Recommended.

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