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Heartwind: Higher And Higher
Heartwind - Higher And Higher Music Review

Heartwind: Higher And Higher

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.0/5.0

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AOR Heaven
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.04.2018

Hailing from Sweden, Heartwind is the creation of two musicians and long time friends, guitarist Goran Engvall (ex-Hitworks) and keyboard player Mikael Rosengren (Constancia, Token, Scudiero). After crafting a bevy of songs for a debut album, the duo needed to round out the band with some additional players. They drafted several well-known Swedes, including drummer Peter Svensson (Constancia, Faith) and vocalist German Pascual (Narnia, Essence of Sorrow, et al). Pascual, in turn, got musical mates guitarist Martin Hall (German Pascual band) and bass player Germain Leth (The Poodles, Watchmen) to round out the band. With no less than three labels having interest in the band, Heartwind signed to Germany's AOR Heaven for the release of Higher And Higher.

Heartwind Band Photo

Heartwind

Typical of much Scandi classic rock bands, Heartwind blurs the line between melodic hard rock and melodic metal. The songs within the album have all the marks of classic rock: melody and harmony in twin guitars, notable keyboards, clean vocal arrangements, and plenty of groove. But also the guitar lines can be sharp and brisk and the rhythm section deep and thundering like melodic heavy metal. Heartwind simply melds these things together using the hooks of tasty melodies and catchy refrains for AOR accessibility.

More edgier metal-infused hard rockers come with Cry Out Into Space, Game Of Love, or Ready For The Moonlight. Other songs, such as Surrounding Me, Creatures of The Night, or Don't Be That Girl, muddle and mix together the hard rock, metal, and AOR for a delicious musical cocktail. The killer track here is Too Late For Roses. Featuring an uncredited female vocalist, the song turns on a groovy rock beat and an uber-catchy chorus. A sweet piano driven ballad comes with One Night Away From You, featuring another an unnamed female vocalist. Later, a large arena anthem, filled with killer guitar lines, arrives with Your Eyes Cannot Lie which, to these ears, seems to feature a different male vocalist than German Pascual. For those last three songs, I was not supplied with song credits from either the band or label, so I don't know who's who. Nevertheless, as a debut Heartwind's Higher And Higher is a well-crafted and entertaining album of metal-infused melodic hard rock from these talented Swedes. Easily recommended.



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The Bottom Line

As a debut Heartwind's Higher And Higher is a well-crafted and entertaining album of metal-infused melodic hard rock from these talented Swedes. Easily recommended.

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