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Heartwind: Strangers

Melodic Metal Rock/AOR

4.5/5.0

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Escape Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 13.11.2020 | Released: 20.11.2020

Sweden's Heartwind, the creation of guitarist Goran Engvall and keyboard player Mikael Rosengren, arrived on the musical scene in 2018 with their debut album Higher And Higher. The recording received voluminous positive reviews from writers and fans alike. I agreed; it was a fine debut. Now the quintet arrives with their highly anticipated sophomore follow-up, Strangers. The album features new vocalist Stefan Nykvist and a jump to England's Escape Music label.

Heartwind

But some things haven't changed. Heartwind is still committed to classic melodic hard rock with a strong metal edge, yet neatly attired in an accessible AOR wrapper. The band features two vocalists: Nykvist and female lead Nina Soderquist. While it might seem that Nykvist's voice takes prominence, and many times it does, you will hear Soderquist rise in such songs as Line Of Fire, Angels Cry Again, I'm Alive. With One Of Us Is Cryin', an AOR anthem, and One Love, a strong rocker, her voice is the singular lead.

Speaking more generally to the songs themselves, with Stranger In The Night, Line Of Fire, and the synth propelled One Love, you'll find some melodic metal rock that borders on bombastic. But that motif is largely the Heartwind musical formula. Catcher In The Rye and Searching Is Over Now offer sharp riffs and an energetic heavy rhythm section for some quick moving heavier melodic hard rock. What you will also find across this album is an abundance of thrilling and soaring guitar solos from Goran Engvall. Lovers of strong guitar lines and epic solos, as I am, will definitely enjoy this album. All in all, Heartwind's Strangers is another grand and entertaining album of classic AOR-infused melodic metal rock, and definitely a strong step forward for the band. Easily recommended.

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All in all, Heartwind's Strangers is another grand and entertaining album of classic AOR-infused melodic metal rock, and definitely a strong step forward for the band. Easily recommended.

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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 ]

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