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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Damned Nation - Grand Design (Jap. Ed.) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jan-09-2015 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Hard Rock Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2000 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.damnednation.tk ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Damned Nation Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Grand Design (Jap. Ed.) Label : Pony Canyon ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Well here's the third album from Damned Nation, ║ │
│║ perhaps the finest rock act to have emerged from ║ │
│║ Sweden in the last five years. 1999's 'Road Of ║ │
│║ Desire' was an impressive album that is a good ║ │
│║ indicator of what to expect on 'Grand Design'. ║ │
│║ Only this time the band sound better both on ║ │
│║ record and in terms of songwriting. 'Grand ║ │
│║ Design' is self produced by the band and where ║ │
│║ 'Road Of Desire' had a good sound, here it ║ │
│║ sounds even clearer and more powerful, this is ║ │
│║ particularly noticeable in the guitar and ║ │
│║ vocals. Another of the first things to strike ║ │
│║ you is that that the band now sounds supremely ║ │
│║ confident. The line up of Thomas Thorsen ║ │
│║ (Vocals), Robert Warnqvist (Guitar), Roger Jern ║ │
│║ (Drums) and Magnus Jonsson (Bass) have certainly ║ │
│║ grown and developed their sound in the year that ║ │
│║ has passed since 'Road Of Desire'. The band seem ║ │
│║ to have got a little heavier but still retain ║ │
│║ those awesome melodies that have been present on ║ │
│║ all their albums. Another improvement is the ║ │
│║ artwork; it suits the bands music better than ║ │
│║ the more 'fantasy' orientated cover of 'Road Of ║ │
│║ Desire'. The album sees a good blend of out and ║ │
│║ out rockers, commercial rockers and classic ║ │
│║ ballads, all manage to combine the bands ║ │
│║ trademark sound and vision. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 1. STONECOLD WOMAN (5.07) ║ │
│║ The album starts off with this heavy rocker that ║ │
│║ although having a simple riff is pretty ║ │
│║ powerful. Thomas' vocals sound very strong and ║ │
│║ have a feel that is like a cross of Robert Mason ║ │
│║ and David Coverdale. The verse is quite ║ │
│║ restraint but kicks thanks to some solid ║ │
│║ drumming from Roger Jern. The chorus has that ║ │
│║ addictive quality to it - 'Stonecold Woman, ║ │
│║ can't get you outta my mind'. The solo is great ║ │
│║ and punches through the mix, their are a few ║ │
│║ licks that are reminiscent of John Sykes, Eddie ║ │
│║ Van Halen [whammy bar dips] and Vivian Campbell ║ │
│║ [in his Dio days]. The track ends with a simple ║ │
│║ ride out of the chorus but it's a great way to ║ │
│║ start the album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 2. HIDING FROM THE WORLD (4.53) ║ │
│║ 'Hiding..' sets off with a mean grooving bass ║ │
│║ line courtesy of Magnus that then progresses ║ │
│║ with volume swells from Robert Warnqvist before ║ │
│║ slamming in with the main riff - 'Don't let ║ │
│║ reality take you by surprise'. The lyrics are ║ │
│║ about how people tend to care more about mundane ║ │
│║ unimportant things rather than what really ║ │
│║ matters e.g. Pollution etc. The track is quite a ║ │
│║ departure from the normal Damned Nation sound ║ │
│║ thanks to some gritty backing vocals. The pre- ║ │
│║ chorus is divine - 'You got so much to live for, ║ │
│║ But you give it all away' - before an equally as ║ │
│║ compelling chorus. The track breaks down to a ║ │
│║ whisper for the bridge before roaring back into ║ │
│║ life with the solo that is pretty melodic, ║ │
│║ another great track. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 3. HEART ON THE RUN (4.23) ║ │
│║ The first track to make use of the direction ║ │
│║ employed throughout the best tracks on 'Road Of ║ │
│║ Desire'. 'Heart On The Run' sees a good hard ║ │
│║ rock verse mixed with a fine AOR style chorus ║ │
│║ that has a glorious melody if a little left- ║ │
│║ field. There's good use of textures throughout ║ │
│║ the track with piano, clean and dirty guitar all ║ │
│║ helping to build the track. Just before the solo ║ │
│║ a riff enters that is a extremely close to one ║ │
│║ from Van Halen's 'Pleasure Dome', but Robert ║ │
│║ obviously doesn't mind the similarity as he ║ │
│║ throws in a very Eddie-ish solo - I'll let you ║ │
│║ off this time lads. Despite this observation it ║ │
│║ is another impressive track. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 4. FORTUNE TELLER (4.27) ║ │
│║ A great heavy rock track that almost verges on ║ │
│║ power metal, some great guitar work at the start ║ │
│║ paves way for a gentle verse that you know is ║ │
│║ just going to get mad and indeed it does. The ║ │
│║ chorus could almost be 'Operation: Mindcrime' ║ │
│║ era Queensryche, and the lyrics are also ║ │
│║ reminiscent of early Queensryche - 'Lady white ║ │
│║ without warning, You got the power to see I ║ │
│║ really want to believe. Read my mind what's the ║ │
│║ future? Am I free to fly can you see kingdom ║ │
│║ come?'. The solo is wah drenched and again ║ │
│║ builds nicely. Towards the end of the track ║ │
│║ theirs some female backing vocals which add ║ │
│║ another slant. One of the highlights. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 5. DESPERATE CALL (5.05) ║ │
│║ The first ballad of the album and in my recent ║ │
│║ interview with Roger Jern he described this ║ │
│║ track as Damned Nation's take on Def Leppard and ║ │
│║ that sums it up perfectly. The arpeggio guitar ║ │
│║ motif at the start is reminiscent of the Lep's ║ │
│║ 'Hysteria', while the chorus sees the big ║ │
│║ multi-layered vocal approach and it works very ║ │
│║ well. The bridge brings back the patented Damned ║ │
│║ Nation sound while the solo is pure John Sykes ║ │
│║ with that great smooth even and wide vibrato - ║ │
│║ nice one Robert!! A great track that shows how ║ │
│║ much the band have matured recently. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 6. EYES OF A STRANGER (4.00) ║ │
│║ 'Eyes Of A Stranger' is the heaviest track here ║ │
│║ and it certainly moves some dust! A great riff ║ │
│║ coupled with an original sounding chorus make ║ │
│║ the track stand out. I've read a few reviews ║ │
│║ that reckon the band sound a little stiff on the ║ │
│║ heavier numbers, well all I can say is I hear no ║ │
│║ such problems on the album at all! The track is ║ │
│║ absolutely chock-a-block with pulsating riffs, ║ │
│║ pounding drums, great vocals and guitar fills ║ │
│║ that would make George Lynch run and hide!! ║ │
│║ That's not to say the track is just all in-yer- ║ │
│║ face, no no, the chorus has a great melody and ║ │
│║ theirs a little calmness before the solo with ║ │
│║ some soothing keyboards, overall this track ║ │
│║ kicks some major ass and I love it! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 7. HANDS OF TIME (3.46) ║ │
│║ Another track that has varying degrees of light ║ │
│║ and shade, the first few seconds are calm before ║ │
│║ another metallic riff that punches you off axis. ║ │
│║ The verse sees the guitar drop out the mix ║ │
│║ allowing the drums and bass to create the ║ │
│║ backdrop before the chorus hits you with a ║ │
│║ sucker punch. The solo is another harmony ║ │
│║ melodic piece that has a DeGarmo/Wilton feel ║ │
│║ before a brief flurry of single notes. The ║ │
│║ chorus has some dark backing vocals that help ║ │
│║ add to the menacing feel and its another winner. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 8. GOING CRAZY (4.55) ║ │
│║ The pace slips off again for the second ballad ║ │
│║ that again is overflowing with catchy melodies, ║ │
│║ it pails when compared to 'Desperate Call' but ║ │
│║ then it is not in the Leppard vein. The track ║ │
│║ sort of has the feel of Whitesnake's 'Here I Go ║ │
│║ Again' but the vocal lines are more quirky, ║ │
│║ while the chorus is more akin to something by ║ │
│║ Mr. Big. The solo is another good addition to ║ │
│║ the track and Robert Warnqvist certainly ║ │
│║ displays a knack for playing what the track ║ │
│║ needs. A good track but probably my least ║ │
│║ favourite on the album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 9. SCREAM OF ANGER ( 5.02) ║ │
│║ A track that is probably closest to the approach ║ │
│║ the band used on 'Road Of Desire', the track has ║ │
│║ more prominent keyboards than elsewhere but some ║ │
│║ interesting overtones that remind me of work by ║ │
│║ Marillion or even Rush. The solo sections are ║ │
│║ interesting with some rhythms that are out of ║ │
│║ the normal and gives the track its own voice. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 10. LOVE REACTION (4.57) ║ │
│║ This track blends the two genres of hard rock ║ │
│║ and AOR rather nicely. The main riff has a feel ║ │
│║ that reminds me off some obscure stuff by ║ │
│║ Whitford/St.Holmes from the early 80's while the ║ │
│║ verse firmly has its sights set on AOR glory. ║ │
│║ The chorus sees some more Leppard style backing ║ │
│║ vocals and someone who sounds similar to Mark ║ │
│║ Slaughter!! Again the musicianship is what is ║ │
│║ called for with each part adding to the track in ║ │
│║ a way that manages to aid it yet not suffocating ║ │
│║ it. The solo is another prime example of what ║ │
│║ Warnqvist is all about and is again well ║ │
│║ executed. Another solid track. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 11. DANCE IN DARKNESS (5.10) ║ │
│║ Some mystical sounds open the album before a ║ │
│║ clean guitar part, kind of like a cross of Dio's ║ │
│║ 'Holy Diver' and Whitesnake's 'Looking For Love' ║ │
│║ before Thomas' vocals wake you up from that ║ │
│║ bizarre thought! This track is quite superb and ║ │
│║ the haunting feel certainly adds a lot of ║ │
│║ atmosphere to the album. The chorus is heavier ║ │
│║ and reminds me of Tesla's darker work, the ║ │
│║ lyrics certainly reflect the dark feel - 'They ║ │
│║ sit around at the devils table smiling sleepless ║ │
│║ minds, She stands alone in the spotlight waiting ║ │
│║ for the feeling she knows so well'. A great ║ │
│║ moody solo sees that Sykes vibrato come into ║ │
│║ play and again it sends shivers down my spine. ║ │
│║ Another highlight that ensures the album ends as ║ │
│║ well as it started. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Well as you may have gathered I thought this ║ │
│║ album was superb pretty much from start to ║ │
│║ finish. Whether it be the out and out rockers ║ │
│║ like 'Eyes Of A Stranger', the smooth ballads ║ │
│║ 'Desperate Call' or the haunting 'Dance In ║ │
│║ Darkness', 'Grand Design' succeeds on every ║ │
│║ level. The production is superb, the ║ │
│║ musicianship excellent and the quality overall ║ │
│║ is nothing short of breath taking. 'Road Of ║ │
│║ Desire' showed the potential Damned Nation had ║ │
│║ and 'Grand Design' has delivered the goods. Not ║ │
│║ only do these tracks do the business on first ║ │
│║ listens they continue to deliver on each ║ │
│║ subsequent spin, and this is one CD that I can ║ │
│║ guarantee will be in your CD player for a long ║ │
│║ time to come. I believe the band plan to release ║ │
│║ a live album next and I reckon these are exactly ║ │
│║ the type of tracks that go down a storm live. ║ │
│║ Thoroughly recommended. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Thomas ThorsΘn - Vocals ║ │
│║ Magnus Jonsson - Bass ║ │
│║ Roger Jern - Drums ║ │
│║ Robert Warnqvist - Guitars ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - stonecold woman [05:08] │
│ 02 - hiding away from the world [04:54] │
│ 03 - heart on the run [04:24] │
│ 04 - fortune teller [04:28] │
│ 05 - desperate call [05:06] │
│ 06 - eyes of a stranger [04:00] │
│ 07 - hands of time [03:46] │
│ 08 - going crazy [04:55] │
│ 09 - scream of anger [05:03] │
│ 10 - love reaction [04:57] │
│ 11 - dance in darkness [05:10] │
│ 12 - love & devotion (live) (bonus track) [04:32] │
│ 13 - are you willing to forgive (live) (bonus t [04:41] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [61:04 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘