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‘Life On Death Road’ is the latest album in the long, illustrious career of Norwegian vocal powerhouse Jorn Lande. Whether or not it’s collaborations with Tobias Sammet on Avantasia, working with Russell Allen on Allen/Lande, or “solo” as Jorn, the common denominator is his powerful vocal range. Often mentioned in the same company as Rob Halford and the much missed Ronnie James Dio, Lande possesses one of the strongest hard rock/metal voices around today… and here is where I insert the part about how if there was any justice in the world then Jorn would be performing on the largest stages in the world. Not so much a “best kept secret” because if you have heard Jorn Lande sing then you’ll never forget him. Maybe more of a case of “criminally ignored”. ‘Life On Death Road’ is as close a “band” album as you’ll get from a group of guys taking a break from their day jobs. Primal Fear members, Alex Beyrodt (guitars), Mat Sinner (bass), and drummer Francesco Jovino join forces with renowned producer and keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio to give Jorn Lande one hell of a band. The album is a great mix of classic hard rock and in places, traditional power metal. Jorn is on the front foot from the opening strains of the bulldozing title track, which serves as a great opening track (complete with solos from guest guitarists Craig Goldy and Gus G), and he doesn’t let up until ‘Blackbirds’ fades out nearly 70 minutes later. The guitars are prominent, and feature way up in the mix, but it’s the thunderous drums that really stick out during the early moments. ‘Hammered To The Cross (The Business)’ is a perfect example of Lande’s vocal range, changing from lower range to higher pitched screams with ease. ‘Love Is The Remedy’ might sound like it should be a ballad, but it’s anything but a traditional ballad, the pounding double bass drum work and another scorching solo from Gus G see to that. ‘Dreamwalker’ is however, more of a traditional ballad… the soft piano intro, soaring guitar sound, and heartfelt vocals from Lande. ‘Insoluble Maze (Dreams In The Blindness)’ is classic Dio-inspired metal, with a stunning narrative vocal from Lande that burrows deep inside the listener’s mind. Jorn changes it up again with ‘I Walked Away’, this time going for more of a bluesier vibe. Think David Coverdale at his best, and you get the idea (the Coverdale influences also creep in on closing track ‘Blackbirds’). ‘The Slippery Slope (Hangman’s Rope)’, and ‘Devil You Can Drive’, bring the power back, before ‘The Optimist’ slows things down with a lighters-in-the-air ballad. Yes, lighters! I’m old school, none of this cell phone crap… which leads nicely onto ‘Man Of The 80’s’, a fantastic few minutes that will strike a chord with anyone growing up and finding their feet in that era. The layered harmonies and simple, restrained vocals from Lande help make the song stand out from the pack. The “band” vibe has paid dividends for Lande, as ‘Life On Death Road’ is another fine album to add to his bulging body of work. Available now through Frontiers Music. More information on the official Jorn Facebook. Review: Dave Stott]]>
