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Hydra: Point Break
Hydra - Point Break Album Art

Hydra: Point Break

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.08.2022 | Released: 12.08.2022

While hardly a youngster in the European music, musician and songwriter Henrik Hedstrom maybe flying under the radar. Calling Stockholm home, Hedstrom has been active in the city's music scene. He's also assocations and friendship with some music folk you will know: musician and producer Daniel Flores (First Signal, Find Me, et al) and Andreas Novak (Mind's Eye, House of Shakira). He's also had his songs recorded by fellow Frontiers Music bands including First Signal and Angelica.

Hydra Click For Larger Image

Hydra

With help of Frontiers, Hedstrom offers his own band project Hydra. The band features vocals and lead/rhythm guitars by Andi Kravljaca who has an abundance of experience with Aeon Zen, First Signal, Seventh Wonder, Silent Call, and many others. With this cadre of talent with him Hedstrom and Hydra offer listeners something essential: classic AOR melodic hard rock.

I won't belabor the natural elements to the genre because they're all here. Rather I'll point out three (maybe more) prominent Hydra characteristics. First the song craftsmanship is excellent, strong on song melody and vocal harmony, and consistent throughout. There's simply not a bad song here. Second, within the rhythm section the bass is abundant and easily heard. Third, the guitar solos kill: Kravljaca is a talented guitarist and really gets to excel and stretch his skills across this album. He nearly steals the show (and he's also the lead vocalist).

As a normally do, to mention a few songs. You'll find some straight up, generously quick rockers with Never Be The Same, Stop The Madness, and in the latter half of Bringing Down The Moon. But, I found many songs truly turning on the radio-accessible AOR groove: like No Lullaby, To Say Goodbye, and Forever My Love. All things considered, Henrik Hedstrom's new project Hydra demonstrates two things: he's an exceptional songwriter and Point Break delivers classic, guitar-forward, AOR melodic hard rock. Easily recommended. Buy it along with the new Generation Radio album, also out this month.




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The Take Away

Henrik Hedstrom's new project Hydra demonstrates two things: he's an exceptional songwriter and Point Break delivers classic, guitar-forward, AOR melodic hard rock. Easily recommended. Buy it along with the new Generation Radio album, also out this month.

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