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Daytona: Garder la Flamme
Daytona - Garder La Flamme Album Art

Daytona: Garder la Flamme

Melodic Hard Rock/AOR
5.0/5.0

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Escape Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 23.10.2024 | Released: 25.10.2024

Though greatly used (or abused), the term "supergroup" may apply to the up and coming Swedish band Daytona. The band features some significant musicians from the Swedish music scene: vocalist Fredrik Werner (Osukaru, Air Raid), guitarist Erik Heikne and bassist Niclas Lindblom both from Miss Behaviour, keyboard player Johan Berlin (ex Eclipse, TimeScape), and drummer Calle Larsson (ex Sarea, Death Wolf). Daytona presents their debut album Garder la Flamme (French: keep the flame) from UK's Escape Music label.

Daytona - Click For Larger Image

Daytona

From Escape Music: "Daytona is not a project but a band with great ambitions and two key words: heart and craft ... With both feet firmly planted in the late '80s hard rock era, Daytona aims to make a mark in the present as well. No nostalgia, no parody, just authenticity and pure passion for the music ... The love for the sound of late '80s hard rock is the foundation of everything, and that's where the journey begins.


Ergo, fundamentally, Daytona is a classic AOR-infused melodic hard rock band. They effortlessly combine the best elements of the genre: song melody, vocal harmony, rock rhythm and groove, hooks in arrangements and refrains, tasteful keyboards, and, of course exuberant guitar solos into radio ready tunes. Toss in some saxophone (or is that some synth trickery) as within Looks Like Rain Time Won't Wait, and you have the perfect storm: the vortex of AOR, Westcoast, and classic rock.

Other brisk rockers arrive with Town Of Many Faces, Downtown, and catchy Welcome To The Real World. Perhaps moving like a slower ballad, or anthem, is Through The Storm. We know Fredrik Werner as a terrific, soulful, vocalist, and his range and emotion greatly expressed in the title track, Garder la Flamme.

Check out the third video for a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Garder la Flamme.

All said, Daytona's Garder la Flame is a fine debut for this Swedish band, a well-crafted, ambitious, and entertaining album of AOR-driven melodic hard rock from some very talented musicians. Definitely recommended.



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The Take Away

Daytona's Garder la Flame is a fine debut for this Swedish band, a well-crafted, ambitious, and entertaining album of AOR-driven melodic hard rock from some very talented musicians. Definitely recommended.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

Purchase Daytona - Garder La Flamme at Amazon
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