• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

November 2024

• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Art Nation: Inception

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR

5.0/5.0

Facebook Twitter Instagram
Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 06.06.2023 | Released: 09.06.2023

After a four year hiatus, Sweden's Art Nation returns with their fourth long-player, Inception. The album comes after some highs and lows for the band. The latter mostly from the COVID pandemic, yet also from past band troubles. Of better interest are the high points. Co-founder and vocalist Alexander Strandell has been busy recording two (excellent) albums with Sweden's Crowne. Because of his participation, Frontiers Music encouraged him to consider a new Art Nation album. And so, the second high: Strandell got the band back together, reuniting with guitarist Christoffer Borg, bassist Richard Svard, and drummer Alexander Lundgren.

Art Nation

Like Crowne, Art Nation plays classic melodic hard rock with definitive AOR accessibility and, perhaps, some metal edge. Fitting their chosen genre, the song arrangements are packed with the necessary elements: rock rhythm and groove, strong guitar and vocal harmony, memorable refrains, and superb solos. In this context, two things rise high: Strandell's strong melodic vocals and Borg's terrific, no, killer guitar solos.

Suffice to say, Art Nation has the skills and talents, the enthusiasm and ability, to create fine AOR melodic hard rock. To that end, Inception is a solid and consistent album of the same with great songs. Looking for something heavier? You'll find it with Light The Fire, Brutal & Beautiful, or the fast and heavy Fight Fire With Fire. Another swift and sharp rocker with plenty of groove arrives with Somewhere I Know I Belong. Very awesome guitar solo, too. For songs that bump up AOR accessibility and groove, listen for 1001 or Break Up. Surprisingly, there's not a single ballad. Huh? No matter. The album rocks.

All said, and simply, Inception is a fine return to form for Sweden's Art Nation. This is well-crafted and entertaining classic AOR melodic hard rock. Easily recommended.

Support the Artist & Dangerdog Music Reviews: This title is available, with unlimited streaming, via an Amazon Music account.

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

All said, and simply, Inception is a fine return to form for Sweden's Art Nation. This is well-crafted and entertaining classic AOR melodic hard rock. 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 ]

• Views: 14K
• Active Users: 3.7K
• New Users: 3.1K
• Event Count: 41K

Source: Google Analytics