Returning with their second release, the follow up to 2009’s fantastic ‘Time Elevation’, Swedes Grand Design (featuring two members of Wolf) have once again proved that an album can have a big stadium rock sound and be relevant in the 21st Century as it was in the 1980’s. The Def Leppard-isms remain, who can blame them really when they are this good, but you may also find some comfort in comparing them to some big named German bands if you don’t like the sound of the Sheffield gentlemen.
Some of the aforementioned groups spent years in the studio, over processing and multi-tracking guitars and vocals, now Grand Design sound as if they know a bit about this thing, but I would imagine, it’s a much more down to the bone recording scenario. I may be wrong, but still, the quality of music and arrangements are still ever present and it has only been two years since their last effort! ‘OughttoGraugh’ stands out, not only for it being close to another well-known song, but also for it choir style chorus’ that are big when it comes to the listening experience. ‘Addiction for Love’ is Grand Design’s massive ballad, but my real gem is ‘Idolize Me’. Each song on the album is crafted with precision and attention to detail, some of these tunes are truly stadium filling epic numbers, if only this came out 20 plus years ago….then Grand Design may have been on the tip of every music fans lips by now. Saether’s vocals are something that can once again be commended, but remember they are backed up heavily with massive multi-layered skulduggery, but if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it I say.
‘Idolizer’ is a brilliant follow up to ‘Time Elevation’, there is not any weak song on the release, but I do feel Grand Design could come up with something a little different for their next effort, this one a dangerously close to bands that have gone before them, and I don’t want them to become a parody of themselves, they are too talented for that. But as an album, this is what it is, you have to appreciate this as a complete album listening experience you cannot pick and choose tracks, this is however a stadium filling epic, a real good listen if you understand melody.
http://www.myspace.com/granddesigner
Paul Maddison
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