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November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
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October 2024

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September 2024

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August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
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[ More Music Reviews ]

Creye: Creye

AOR Melodic Hard Rock

4.5/5.0

Website Facebook
Frontiers Music
Released: 12.10.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.10.2018

Hailing from Sweden, the premier home of Scandi melodic rock, comes Creye founded by guitarist Andreas Gullstrand (Grand Slam) in early 2015. His simple desire was to revisit Eighties AOR melodic hard rock and make it viable and entertaining for the present. With a band that boasts six musicians, Gullstrand and Creye drop their first, self-titled debut album for Frontiers Music.

Creye

Honestly, and also simply, Gullstrand has achieved his goal. The band and the tunes have the proper elements for AOR melodic rock: melodic and harmonious vocals and vocal arrangements; strong and equally harmonious twin guitar riffage; abundant rhythm and driving rock groove; stylish synths for texture and accent; and, of course, Gullstrand's soaring guitar solos. This is true AOR melodic rock ear candy.

As for the songs, and mentioning those synths, many songs both begin and swell with their presence such as Holding On, Different State Of Mind, Desperately Lovin', and the mandatory AOR chick song, Christina. With Miracle or All We Need Is Faith, you'll find more steady rockers with large vocal arrangements. A ballad comes with Love Will Never Die. Both gentle and rising, it has that quintessential AOR arena quality where you fire up your lighter. (Geez, does that make me sound old.) Alternatively, Creye can simply rock out with the quick rousing rock of Straight To The Top, City Lights, and the more assertive, yet quite catchy, Still Believe in You. As said earlier, with this debut album Creye achieves their intended goal, delivering AOR melodic hard rock ear candy in the best Eighties tradition. Easily recommended.

Atlas: In Pursuit Of Memory

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

4.0/5.0

Some 13 months from the release of their short four song EP World In Motion, Atlas returns with their debut long player, In Pursuit Of Memory. Surprisingly, the band ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

With their debut album Creye achieves their intended goal, delivering AOR melodic hard rock ear candy in the best Eighties tradition. Easily recommended.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]